Fullerene-like MoS2 Nanoparticles and Their Tribological Behavior

Using a new quartz-made reactor, large amounts of fullerene-like (IF) MoS2 nanoparticles were synthesized by reacting MoO3 vapor with H2S in a reducing atmosphere. The nanoparticles were found to be of high crystalline order; with an average size of 70 nm and consist of more than 30 closed shells. Extensive tribological testing of the nanoparticles in two types of synthetic oils- poly-alpha olefins (PAO)- was carried out and compared to that of bulk (2H platelets) MoS2 and IF-WS2. These tests indicated that under high pressure and relatively low humidity, the IF-MoS2 exhibited a friction coefficient as low as 0.03 and the smallest wear rate of the measured systems. However, its performance was found to be lower in comparison to IF-WS2 after 2500 cycles, due probably to its inferior chemical stability. This study indicates that the tribological performance of the IF nanoparticles depends strongly on their crystalline order and size.

[1]  M. A. Gómez,et al.  Influence of inorganic fullerene‐like WS2 nanoparticles on the thermal behavior of isotactic polypropylene , 2007 .

[2]  D. Mihailovic,et al.  Self-Assembly of Subnanometer-Diameter Single-Wall MoS2 Nanotubes , 2001, Science.

[3]  P. Parilla,et al.  The first true inorganic fullerenes? , 1999, Nature.

[4]  M. José-Yacamán,et al.  Studies of MoS2 structures produced by electron irradiation , 1996 .

[5]  Sidney R. Cohen,et al.  Hollow nanoparticles of WS2 as potential solid-state lubricants , 1997, Nature.

[6]  I. Jiménez,et al.  Unique isothermal crystallization behavior of novel polyphenylene sulfide/inorganic fullerene-like WS2 nanocomposites. , 2008, The journal of physical chemistry. B.

[7]  R. Tenne,et al.  Growth Mechanism of MoS2 Fullerene-like Nanoparticles by Gas-Phase Synthesis , 2000 .

[8]  Yongfa Zhu,et al.  Low temperature synthesis and characterization of molybdenum disulfide nanotubes and nanorods , 2004 .

[9]  G. Amaratunga,et al.  Thin films of fullerene-like MoS2 nanoparticles with ultra-low friction and wear , 2000, Nature.

[10]  R. Tenne,et al.  Inorganic fullerene-like material as additives to lubricants: structure–function relationship , 1999 .

[11]  H. A. Therese,et al.  Metal–Organic Chemical Vapor Depostion Synthesis of Hollow Inorganic‐Fullerene‐Type MoS2 and MoSe2 Nanoparticles , 2005 .

[12]  R. Tenne,et al.  Mechanisms of ultra-low friction by hollow inorganic fullerene-like MoS2 nanoparticles , 2002 .

[13]  Reshef Tenne,et al.  New reactor for production of tungsten disulfide hollow onion-like (inorganic fullerene-like) nanoparticles , 2000 .

[14]  W. Jaegermann,et al.  Controlled photocorrosion of tungsten diselenide: influence of molecular oxygen , 1990 .

[15]  R. Tenne,et al.  Toughening of Epoxy Adhesives by Nanoparticles , 2009 .

[16]  N. Fleischer,et al.  Ultralow-friction and wear properties of IF-WS2 under boundary lubrication , 2005 .

[17]  Sibylle Gemming,et al.  Structure and stability of molybdenum sulfide fullerenes. , 2007, Angewandte Chemie.

[18]  John L. Hutchison,et al.  Bulk Synthesis of Inorganic Fullerene-like MS2 (M = Mo, W) from the Respective Trioxides and the Reaction Mechanism , 1996 .

[19]  M. Terrones,et al.  An alternative route to molybdenum disulfide nanotubes , 2000 .

[20]  Lev Rapoport,et al.  Synthesis of fullerene-like MoS2nanoparticles and their tribological behavior , 2009 .

[21]  R. Tenne,et al.  How stable are inorganic fullerene-like particles? Thermal analysis (STA) of inorganic fullerene-like NbS2, MoS2, and WS2 in oxidizing and inert atmospheres in comparison with the bulk material , 2004 .

[22]  R. Tenne,et al.  High-Rate, Gas-Phase Growth of MoS2 Nested Inorganic Fullerenes and Nanotubes , 1995, Science.