MoS2 Microtubes: An Electron Microscopy Study

Abstract

Recently it was found that instability of thin weakly bonded MoS 2 sheets against folding can lead to a growth of hollowed microtubes with several mm lengths, 1–20 μm diameter and less than 0.1 μm wall thickness.1 Bent sheets can directly roll up into the tube or they can produce in their microfolds a turbulent gas flow of transported molecules which promotes a tubelike growth mode. These uncommon stable features of inorganic crystals reveal a great similarity to much smaller carbon fullerences and especially to inorganic ( MoS 2, WS 2) nested fullereness-nanotubes.2 Scanning electron microscopic studies of cylindrical microtubes and twisted microribbons are combined with high resolution electron microscopic observations of stacking faults.