Method and system for producing molybdenum disulfide inorganic nanotubes

A method of production of crystalline molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) inorganic nanotubes (INTs), the method comprising:

• performing initial synthesis of pure phase hexagonal molybdenum oxide (h-MoO3) nanowhiskers, said h-MoO3 nanowhiskers presenting a precursor and templating agent for producing the MoS2 INTs;
• performing a first-stage sulfurization of the precursor and templating agent, h-MoO3, via a solid-gas reaction of the h-MoO3 with reactive gases at first predetermined temperature conditions, said first stage sulfurization comprising partial reduction of h-MoO3 nanowhiskers to MoOx-containing nanowhiskers (2≤x<3), followed by formation of nanostructures corresponding to an initial growth stage of MoS2 INTs having cores comprising MoOx-containing nanowhiskers and initial MoS2 intermittent guiding layers, configured as randomly oriented nanoplatelets or partially distorted layers, at the surface of the MoOx-containing nanowhiskers, such that said MoS2 intermittent guiding layers provide protection against any one of sublimation or over-reduction of the MoOx at higher temperatures;
• performing at least a second stage sulfurization of said nanostructures via a solid-gas reaction thereof with reactive gases at second predetermined temperature conditions being relatively high as compared to the first temperature conditions, thereby providing recrystallization of said MoS2 intermittent guiding layers to obtain highly crystalline layers and complete sulfurization of MoOx inside the cores to MoS2, and to obtain pure phase and high aspect ratio MoS2 INTs of needle-like crystal with hollow core morphology, and predetermined walls' structure.