Synthesis of ultrathin rhenium disulfide nanoribbons using nano test tubes

The synthesis of ultrathin rhenium disulfide (ReS₂) nanoribbons within single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been established. Dirhenium decacarbonyl complex is encapsulated into the SWNTs to provide a source of confined rhenium atoms, which readily react with iodine to form discrete nm-sized clusters of rhenium iodide [Re₆I₁₄]^2- embedded in the nanotubes. The final step of the synthesis is accomplished by admitting hydrogen sulfide gas into nano test tubes, yielding twisted nanoribbons of rhenium disulfide encapsulated in carbon nanotubes, ReS₂@SWNTs. The width, structure, and composition of rhenium disulfide nanoribbons are strictly controlled by the extreme confinement of the host-SWNT. A holistic analytical approach combining complementary imaging and analysis methods is used at each synthetic step to elucidate the structure and composition of the guest material and reveal the role of the SWNT contributing towards the electronic interactions with encapsulated inorganic structures. As ReS₂ nanoribbons are expected to retain the electronic properties of the bulk material, such as direct bandgap, the low dimensional form of this material can be of interest for use in nanoscale electronic devices.