Controlled self-decoration of Mo^sub 6^S^sub y^I^sub z^ (8.2 [less-than or equal to] y + z [less-than or equal to] 10) nanowires and their transformation to MoS^sub 2^ nanotubes with gold nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 15; no. 7; p. 1
• Main Authors: Kovic, Andrej, Vengust, Damjan, Vilfan, Mojca, Mrzel, Ales
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 01.07.2013
• Subjects: Crystals; Fabrication; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Reagents
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-013-1791-2

Nanowires and nanotubes decorated with gold nanoparticles are known for their excellent sensing and catalytic properties. However, the decoration of transition-metal dichalcogenide nanotubes can be very complex. Here we report on a simple procedure that enables efficient production and purification of thin bundles of Mo^sub 6^S^sub y^I^sub z^ (8.2 [less-than or equal to] y + z [less-than or equal to] 10) nanowires decorated with gold nanoparticles and their transformation to gold-decorated MoS^sub 2^ nanotubes. We isolated several hundred milligrams of nanowire bundles that were several microns long with average diameters of around 40 nm, and formed a stable dispersion in water without added surfactants. Gold nanoparticles were directly deposited on the nanowire bundles either in a solution or on a substrate at room temperature in a single-step reaction without any additional reducing reagents. The number of gold nanoparticles on a nanowire bundle is controlled by changing the concentration of chloroauric acid HAuCl^sub 4^·3H2O in the solution. Since the nanowires can serve as precursor crystals for fabrication of nanotubes, we were able to transform gold-decorated nanowires and produce gold-decorated MoS^sub 2^ nanotubes.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]