Applications for inorganic fullerene-like particles

1. A nanostructure comprising:

a multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure comprising a plurality of layers each comprised of a metal chalcogenide composition has a molecular formula of MX 2 , where M is a metallic element selected from the group consisting of titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), technetium (Tc), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), rhenium (Re), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt), gold (Au), mercury (Hg) and combinations thereof, and X is a chalcogen element selected from the group consisting of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), oxygen (O) and combinations thereof, wherein an outer layer of the multi-layered fullerene-like structure comprises at least one sectioned portion, the at least one sectioned portion extends along a direction away from the curvature of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure, the at least one sectioned portion engaged to remaining section of the outer layer.

2. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure is substantially spherical.

3. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure has a diameter ranging from 5 nm to 5 microns.

4. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sectioned portion that extends along a direction away from the curvature of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure extends along a direction that is closer to substantially normal to the curvature surface of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure.

5. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sectioned portion that extends along a direction away from the curvature of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure extends along a direction that is substantially tangent to the curvature surface of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure.

6. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one section portion includes a plurality of sectioned portions of the outer layer positioned around an entirety of the curvature surface of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure.

7. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the outer layer including the plurality of sectioned portions comprises dangled bonds that provide a charged surface of the outer layer of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure.

8. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the section portions of the outer layer have a length ranging from 1% to 70% of a diameter of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure.

9. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the outer layer of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure is functionalized with a functionalizing agents selected from the group consisting of silanes, thiols, ionic, anionic, cationic, nonionic surfactants, amine based dispersant and surfactants, succinimide groups, fatty acids, acrylic polymers, copolymers, polymers, monomers and combinations thereof.

10. A material including a nanostructure comprising:

a first phase; and

a second phase including the nanostructure being dispersed within the first phase, the nanostructure comprising at least one intercalation compound of a metal chalcogenide having molecular formula MX 2 , where M is a metallic element selected from the group consisting of titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), technetium (Tc), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), rhenium (Re), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt), gold (Au), mercury (Hg) and combinations thereof, and X is a chalcogen element selected from the group consisting of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), oxygen (O) and combinations thereof, wherein the intercalation compound has a multi-layered fullerene-like geometry, wherein an outer layer of the multi-layered fullerene-like geometry comprises at least one sectioned portion, the at least one sectioned portion extends along a direction away from the curvature of the multi-layered fullerene-like geometry, the at least one sectioned portion engaged to remaining section of the outer layer.

11. The material of claim 10 , wherein the material is a lubricant, and the first phase is a fluid medium that comprises Group I, II, III, IV, and V lubricants, synthetic oils, mineral oils or combinations thereof.

12. The material of claim 11 , wherein the first phase is said synthetic oils, and said synthetic oil is selected from the group consisting of polyalpha-olefins, olefins, isomerized olefins, synthetic esters, phosphate esters, silicate esters, polyalkylene glycols and combinations thereof, or wherein the first phase is said bio-lubricants, and said bio-lubricants is selected from the group consisting of lanolin, whale oil, canola oil, castor oil, palm oil, sunflower seed oil, rapeseed oil, tall oil and combinations thereof.

13. The material of claim 11 , further comprising a functionalizing agent selected from the group consisting of silanes, thiols, ionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, amine based dispersant and surfactants, polymers, monomers and combinations thereof.

14. The material of claim 12 , wherein the material is a drilling fluid, and the first phase is a drilling fluid medium selected from the group consisting of water, air and water, air and foaming agent, a water based mud, an oil based mud, a synthetic based fluid, and a combination thereof.

15. The material of claim 10 , wherein the material is a composite material comprising a polymeric matrix for the first phase, wherein the second phase of the nanostructure is dispersed within the polymeric matrix, the polymer matrix having a composition selected from the group consisting of elastomers, epoxies, thermoplastic polymers, polyamides, polyphthalamide, polyphthalamide blend, poly-amide-imide, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polyester, polyurethanes, polypropylenes, and combinations thereof.

16. The material of claim 15 , further comprising a carbon containing structure selected from the group consisting of a single wall carbon nanotube, a multi-wall carbon nanotube, graphite, carbon black, diamond like carbon (DLC) and a combination thereof.

17. A coating comprising:

a deposition surface; and

a coating on the deposition surface, the coating including particles of a metal chalcogenide comprising a multi-layered fullerene-like geometry, wherein the metal chalcogenide composition has a molecular formula of MX 2 , where M is a metallic element selected from the group consisting of titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), technetium (Tc), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), rhenium (Re), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt), gold (Au), mercury (Hg) and combinations thereof, and X is a chalcogen element selected from the group consisting of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), oxygen (O) and combinations thereof, wherein an outer layer of the multi-layered fullerene-like geometry comprises at least one sectioned portion, the at least one sectioned portion extends along a direction away from the curvature of the multi-layered fullerene-like geometry, the at least one sectioned portion engaged to remaining section of the outer layer.

18. The coating composition of claim 17 , wherein the coating further comprises a base material layer selected from the group consisting of chrome (Cr), chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ), diamond like carbon (DLC), carbon based materials, silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), titanium carbide (TiC), nickel titanium (NiTi), aluminum oxide (AhO 3 ), boron carbide (B 4 C), boron, tungsten cobalt (WCo) and combinations thereof.

19. The coating composition of claim 17 , wherein the coating further comprises a base material layer selected from the group consisting base material layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of elastomers, epoxies, thermoplastic polymers, polyamides, polyphthalamide, polyphthalamide blend, poly-amide-imide, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polyester, polyurethanes, polypropylenes, and combinations thereof.

20. The coating composition of claim 17 , wherein the particles of the metal chalcogenide are functionalized with at least one of non-anionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, surfactants, silanes, thiols, polymers and dopants.