Snapshots of the Formation of Inorganic MoS₂ Onion‐Type Fullerenes: A “Shrinking Giant Bubble” Pathway

Growing onions: Formation of onion-type MoS2 fullerenes was monitored by taking TEM snapshots of reaction intermediates in the thermal decomposition of amorphous precursor particles, which led first to giant multiwall fullerenes (d>150 nm) in which, at higher temperature, smaller daughter fullerenes segregated (see TEM image). Subsequently, tubular nanopods, containing fullerene particles and finally twinned and nested fullerenes, were formed.