Influence of Mechanical Milling on the Surface and Morphological Properties of Nanoparticle Molybdenum Disulfide

Abstract

SYNTHESIS of nested nanoscale 2H-MoS2 partially ordered layers, through grinding technique, is reported. High surface area of molybdenum disulfide was produced and located in mesoscale, ranging between 14 - 125 m2/g. The samples were characterized and investigated by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption at - 196 oC, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The reduction in crystallinity is directly proportional to the grinding time. Grinding was demonstrated to be an effective physical technique for monitoring the crystallite sizes. It mostly affects the number of the stacked MoS2 layers but not the slab lengths. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms measured were interpreted and analyzed by application of BET equation as well as both αs- and t- methods for surface area calculations. It was discovered that the increase in grinding time led to a decrease in the crystallite sizes, simultaneously, accompanied by a sharp increase in the surface area of the investigated solids.

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