Synthesis of MoO3 nanostructures and their facile conversion to MoS2 fullerenes and nanotubes

The fast thermolysis of ammonium molybdate leads to a mixture Of MoO3 and Mo5.3O14.5(OH)(2.8)(H2O)(1,36) with spherical and rod-like morphologies. The oxide mixture can be converted in quantitative yield to inorganic fullerene-type (IF) MoS2 and MoS2 nanotubes (NT) by H2S reduction using a facile and quick procedure. The products were studied by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). TEM analysis reveals that the spherical and rod-like morphology of the oxide precursor is preserved during the H2S treatment. (c) 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.