Fullerene-like Mo(W)(1-x)RexS2 nanoparticles

Inorganic fullerene-like (IF) Mo1-xRexS2 and W1-xRexS2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a gasphase reaction involving the respective metal halides with H2S. The IF-Mo(W)(1-x)RexS2 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 MoS2 host lattice. Interestingly, Re-doped MoS2 nanotubes are present as well, although in small quantities (similar to 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.