Scaling Up of the WS2Nanotubes Synthesis

Abstract The growth mechanism of WS2 nanotubes is briefly discussed. Two distinct growth mechanisms can be delineated, leading to somewhat different products: 1) thick (50–150 nm) and very long (20–50 microns and above) nanotubes consisting of many (>20) layers, and 2) slender (20–25 nm) nanotubes with 5–10 layers. The synthesis of large amounts of pure WS2 nanotubes belonging to the first category in the large-scale fluidized-bed reactor is described. Characterization of the nanotubes, which grow catalyst-free by a number of analytical techniques, is reported. The nanotubes reveal highly crystalline order, suggesting very good mechanical behavior and numerous applications, especially in the field of nanocomposites.