Multi-walled carbon/IF-WS2 nanoparticles with improved thermal properties

Abstract

A unique new class of core–shell structured composite nanoparticles, C-coated inorganic fullerene-like WS₂ (IF-WS₂) hollow nanoparticles, has been created for the first time in large quantities, by a continuous chemical vapour deposition method using a rotary furnace. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman characterisations of the resulting samples reveal that the composite nanoparticles exhibited a uniform shell of carbon coating, ranging from 2–5 nm on the IF-WS₂ core, with little or no agglomeration. Importantly, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirm that their thermal stability against oxidation in air has been improved by about 70 °C, compared to the pristine IF-WS₂, making these new C-coated IF-WS₂ nanoparticles more attractive for critical engineering applications.