Insights into the capping and structure of MoS(2) nanotubes as revealed by aberration-corrected STEM.

Aberration-corrected electron microscopy (STEM-HAADF) has been used for the first time to understand the capping, nature and structure of the MoS(2) nanotubes. The MoS(2) nanotubes that have been obtained have various unusual faceted caps presumably arising from the presence of topological defects. A detailed study of the capping of the nanotubes, along with identification that the MoS(2) nanotubes are of the zigzag type have been carried out using both experimental and simulated STEM images. The presence of 3R-rhombohedral stacking of the MoS(2) nanotubes has been identified.