Inorganic compounds with layered structure, like MoS2, NiCl2 and many others were shown to be unstable in the nano-range forming closed-cage fullerene-like structures (IF) as well as nanotubes (INT). First, an update of the progress in the synthesis of these and new kinds of IF and INT will be presented. The favorable tribological behavior of IF-Mo(W)S2 nanoparticles was attributed to their mechanical robustness, as well as to their low surface energy, leading to facile shearing, rolling and finally exfoliation under high load. Full production and commercialization of lubricants based on these nanoparticles is underway. The doping of the nanoparticles with minute amounts of foreign atoms, like Re, or Nb leads to precipitous reduction in friction and wear. This behavior was exploited to demonstrate a variety of applications in medical technology. In-situ nanomechnical analysis is most suitable to study the mechanical and lubrication mechanisms of these nanoparticles.
In conclusion the lecture will try to show the intimate relation between high-temperature syntheses of inorganic nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles, their properties and their applications.
Keywords: inorganic nanotubes; inorganic fullerenes, nanomechanics, nanotribology
