Synthesis and Characterization of Nanosize Molybdenum Disulfide Particles by Quick Homogeneous Precipitation Method

Molybdenum sulfide nanoparticles were prepared via quick homogeneous precipitation method (QHPM) by the reaction between Na2MoO4 and CH3CSNH2 in the presence of sulfuric acid at 80 oC. The as-synthesized molybdenum sulfide particles were studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results showed that the as-synthesized molybdenum sulfide was amorphous MoS3 nanoparticles with an average size of 40 nm. The resultant amorphous MoS3 nanoparticles were then calcined under hydrogen gas flow at a selected temperature for 50 minutes. The results of XRD, TEM, and HRTEM confirmed that the MoS2 nanoparticles with about 40 nm were prepared from the amorphous MoS3 nanoparticles at 780 oC.