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Molybdenum Disulfide

  • Page ID
    35896
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    Molybdenum disulfide, MoS2, forms a gray-black mass which is similar to graphite, both in appearance and to the touch. Like graphite MoS2 is widely used as solid lubricant. Molybdenum disulfide occurs in nature as molybdenite (crystalline) and as jordisite (amorphous). Metallic molybdenum is produced from molybdenite.

    The lubrication properties are due to a layered structure of MoS2, where the molybdenum atoms are located between layers of sulfur atoms. The sheets of sulfur atoms exhibit only weak van der Waals interaction forces, resulting in a low coefficient of friction.

    MoS2 is diamagnetic and a semiconductor.

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