Inorganic nanotubes and fullerene-like structures (IF)

Back in 1992 it was proposed that nanoparticles of layered compounds will be unstable against folding and will close up into fullerene-like structures (IF) and nanotubes. In the years that followed nanotubes and fullerene-like structures were synthesized from numerous compounds with layered structure. More recently, crystalline and noncrystalline nanotubes of compounds with a 3D, i.e., quasi-isotropic lattice have been intensively investigated. In view of their eminent applications potential, much effort and substantial progress has been achieved in the scaling-up of the synthesis of inorganic nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles of WS2 and MoS2 and also other compounds. Early on it was suggested that hollow nano-octahedra consisting of a few hundred MoS2 moieties make the true analogs of C-60, etc. This notion has been advanced considerably in recent years through a combined experimental-theoretical effort. Substantial progress has been accomplished in the use of such nanoparticles for tribological applications and lately for impact resilient nanocomposites. These tests indicated that IF-MoS2 and IF-WS2 are heading for large-scale applications in the automotive, machining, aerospace, electronics, defense, medical and numerous other kinds of industries. A few products based on these nanoparticles have been recently commercialized by "ApNano Materials, Inc" ("NanoMaterials, Ltd.", see also www.apnano.com). Most recently, a manufacturing facility for the commercialization of these nanomaterials has been erected and sales of the product started. Novel applications of inorganic nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles in the fields of catalysis; microelectronics; Li rechargeable batteries; medical and optoelectronics will be discussed.