Nanomechanical behavior of MoS(2) and WS(2) multi-walled nanotubes and Carbon nanohorns

Nano-objects have been investigated for drug delivery, oil detection, contaminant removal, and tribology applications. In some applications, they are subjected to friction and deformation during contact with each other and their surfaces on which they slide. Experimental studies directly comparing local and global deformation are lacking. This research performs nanoindentation (local deformation) and compression tests (global deformation) with a nanoindenter (sharp tip and flat punch, respectively) on molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs), ~500 nm in diameter. Hardness of the MoS(2) nanotube was similar to bulk and does not follow the “smaller is stronger” phenomenon as previously reported for other nano-objects. Tungsten disulfide (WS(2)) MWNTs, ~300 nm in diameter and carbon nanohorns (CNHs) 80–100 nm in diameter were of interest and also selected for compression studies. These studies aid in understanding the mechanisms involved during global deformation when nano-objects are introduced to reduce friction and wear. For compression, highest loads were required for WS(2) nanotubes, then MoS(2) nanotubes and CNHs to achieve the same displacement. This was due to the greater number of defects with the MoS(2) nanotubes and the flexibility of the CNHs. Repeat compression tests of nano-objects were performed showing a hardening effect for all three nano-objects.