Inorganic nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles at the crossroad between materials science and nanotechnology and its applications

Reshef Tenne, Materials and interfaces, Weizmann institute of science, Rehovot, Israel

This presentation is aimed at demonstrating the progress with the synthesis and characterization of new inorganic nanotubes (INT) and fullerene-like (IF) nanoparticles (NP) from 2-D layered compounds. Two important categories of new IF/INT nanostructures will be discussed in particular: 1. Synthesis of Doped IF/INT of WS₂ (MoS₂) by rhenium and niobium; 2. Synthesis of IF and in particular INT from the ternary misfit compounds, like PbS-TaS₂, GdS-CrS₂. The synthesis of 1-D nanostructures from this vast group of layered materials is particularly promising.  

Re-doped IF-MoS₂ NP exhibit superior solid lubrication behavior in different environment and can find numerous applications in e.g. medical technology, which will be briefly demonstrated. Major progress has been achieved in elucidating the structure of INT and IF using advanced microscopy techniques, like aberration corrected TEM and electron tomography. Applications of the IF/INT as superior solid lubricants and for reinforcement of polymer nanocomposites, which gained a lot of momentum in recent times, will be briefly discussed. Few recent studies indicate that this brand of nanoparticles is not-toxic and biocompatible. With expanding product lines, manufacturing and sales, this generation of superior lubricants is becoming gradually a commodity.