Room temperature sonoelectrochemical synthesis of molybdenum sulfide fullerene-like nanoparticles

Ultrasonic excitation involving local bursts of very high temperature in and around collapsing bubbles is demonstrated for the synthesis of closed fullerene-like structure of MoS₂ by electrodeposition from thiomolybdate solutions onto an ultrasonic probe at room temperature. Either electrodeposition or ultrasonic irradiation alone results in X-ray amorphous Mo-S products, but the combination of both gives well-crystallized closed structures of MoS₂. The combination of electrochemical and sonic processes provide many variables that will allow control of particle size, shape and size and shape distribution and will probably be applicable to the formation of closed structures of other layered compounds that can be prepared by electrochemical techniques.