Fullerene-like Mo(W)(1-x)Re(x)S2 nanoparticles

Chem Asian J. 2008 Sep 1;3(8-9):1568-74. doi: 10.1002/asia.200800083.

Abstract

Inorganic fullerene-like (IF) Mo(1-x)Re(x)S(2) and W(1-x)Re(x)S(2) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a gas-phase reaction involving the respective metal halides with H(2)S. The IF-Mo(W)(1-x)Re(x)S(2) nanoparticles, containing up to 5 % Re, were characterized by a variety of experimental techniques. Analyses of the X-ray powder diffraction and different electron microscopy techniques show that the Re is doped in the MoS(2) host lattice. Interestingly, Re-doped MoS(2) nanotubes are present as well, although in small quantities ( approximately 5 %). XPS results confirm the nanoparticles to be more n-type arising from the effect of Re doping. Additionally, density-functional tight-binding (DFTB) calculations support the observed n-type behavior.