Synthesis and characterization of WS2 nanotubes

High-purity WS2 nanotubes were synthesized on a relatively large scale by thermal decomposition of amorphous/nano (NH4)(2)WS4 in a floating hydrogen and thiophene atmosphere at a heating temperature of 360-450 degreesC. Extensive investigations of WS2 nanotubes by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements were reported. Our improved route Yielded large quantities of open-ended WS2 nanotubes with an average length of 5 mum, an outer diameter of 25-50 nm, an inner diameter of up to 20 nm, and an interlayer spacing of 0.62 nm. The present study is also of interest because it provides a clue to better understanding the inside out growth mechanism Of WS2 nanotubes, and this can be extended for the synthesis of other metal-sulfide nanostructural materials.