WS₂ breeds with carbon to create a wormlike nanostructure and assembly: Reaction of W(CO)₆ with S under autogenic pressure at elevated temperature under inert atmosphere

The thermolysis of W(CO)₆ in the presence of elemental S, in a closed Swagelok reactor at 750°C under inert atmosphere, produced anisotropic WS₂ particles embedded in carbon. These particles are created as a one-dimensional, wormlike nanostructure and assembly. A one-step, solvent-free, straightforward, environmentally friendly (no traditional use of H₂S and H₂/N₂ forming gas), and competent RAPET (reaction under autogenic pressure at elevated temperature) approach is used for the current synthesis. Systematic compositional (EDX, CHNS, SAEDX, WDX mapping), structural (XRD, HR-TEM, Raman spectroscopy), morphological (HR-SEM, HR-TEM), and BET surface area analyses are carried out to understand the formed product. The mechanistic elucidation for the formation of anisotropic WS ₂ particles embedded in carbon is provided on the basis of the obtained analytical data, control experiments, and previously published reports.