Transition metal dichalcogenide materials have recently been shown to exhibit a variety of intriguing optical and electronic phenomena. Focusing on the optical properties of semiconducting WS2 nanotubes, we show here that these nanostructures exhibit strong light-matter interaction and form exciton-polaritons. Namely, these nanotubes act as quasi 1-D polaritonic nano-systems and sustain both excitonic features and cavity modes in the visible-near infrared range. This ability to confine light to subwavelength dimensions under ambient conditions is induced by the high refractive index of tungsten disulfide. Using "finite-difference time-domain" (FDTD) simulations we investigate the interactions between the excitons and the cavity mode and their effect on the extinction spectrum of these nanostructures. The results of FDTD simulations agree well with the experimental findings as well as with a phenomenological coupled oscillator model which suggests a high Rabi splitting of ∼280 meV. These findings open up possibilities for developing new concepts in nanotube-based photonic devices.

We report on the first exfoliation of MoS2 coaxial nanotubes. The single-layer flakes, as the result of exfoliation, represent the transition metal dichalcogenides' analogue of graphene. They show a very low degree of restacking in comparison with exfoliation of MoS2 plate-like crystals. MoS2 monolayers were investigated by means of electron and atomic force microscopies, showing their structure, and ultraviolet-visible spectrometry, revealing quantum confinement as the consequence of the nanoscale size in the z-direction.

The first polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-MoS 2 nanotube based nanocomposites have been prepared. The structure of the nanocomposite is discussed based on electron microscopy, X-ray and atomic force microscopy studies. The results indicate that the well-dispersed MoS 2 nanotubes are efficiently incorporated into the polymer matrix. The polymer-nanotube interaction stabilizes a novel 2b stacking within the g-phase, as confirmed by X-ray and AFM measurements, which represents a new PVDF crystal structure. Annealing of the PVDF-MoS 2 nanotube films at 110 C during polymer crystallization leads to a completely relaxed a-phase with the nanotubes forming the nucleation centres for crystallization of the dendritic a-phase.

Inorganic nanotubes (NTs) and fullerene-like nanoparticles (NPs) of WS were discovered some 25 years ago and are produced now on a commercial scale for various applications. This Perspective provides a brief description of recent progress in this scientific discipline. The conceptual evolution leading to the discovery of these NTs and NPs is briefly discussed. Subsequently, recent progress in the synthesis of such NPs from a variety of inorganic compounds with layered (2D) structure is described. In particular, we discuss the synthesis of NTs from chalcogenide- and oxide-based ternary misfit layered compounds, as well as their structure and different growth mechanisms. Next we deliberate on the mechanical, optical, electrical, and electromechanical properties, which delineate them from their bulk counterparts and also from their graphene-like analogues. Here, different experiments with individual NTs coupled with first-principles and molecular dynamics calculations demonstrate the unique physical nature of these quasi-1D nanostructures. Finally, the various applications of the fullerene-like NPs of WS and NTs formed therefrom are deliberated. Foremost among the possibilities are their extensive uses as superior solid lubricants. Combined with their nontoxicity and their facile dispersion, these NTs, with an ultimate strength of about 20 GPa, are likely to find numerous applications in reinforcing polymers, adhesives, textiles, medical devices, metallic alloys, and even concrete. Other potential applications in energy-harvesting and catalysis are discussed in brief.