WS2

Tungsten disulfide · Tungsten(IV) sulfide

Tungsten disulfide is a stable semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenide widely utilized as a high-performance solid lubricant and a candidate for next-generation electronic devices.

Crystal structure of WS2
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Tungsten disulfide

Tungsten disulfide is a prominent member of the transition-metal dichalcogenide family, characterized by its reliable semiconducting nature. As a thermodynamically stable material residing on the convex hull, it offers exceptional structural integrity and chemical robustness for high-performance applications. Its layered architecture allows for easy exfoliation, making it a subject of intense research in nanotechnology.

Beyond its structural stability, this compound is widely recognized for its excellent tribological properties. It serves as a high-grade solid lubricant capable of performing under extreme conditions where traditional oils fail. Its unique electronic and mechanical profile continues to drive innovation in fields ranging from optoelectronics to advanced protective coatings.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Tungsten disulfide, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

1.26–1.81 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

190
4 databases, 29 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting WS2.

Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Uses

Applications

Where Tungsten disulfide is used.

Solid-film lubricationDry lubricant for aerospace componentsSemiconductor device researchPhotodetectorsCatalysis for hydrogen evolution
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

2 patents reference WS2 or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
10183863Porous hollow shell WO3/WS2 nanomaterial and method of preparing same
8303926Synthetic methods for generating WS2 nanostructured materials
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Tungsten disulfide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is WS2?

Tungsten disulfide is a stable semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenide widely utilized as a high-performance solid lubricant and a candidate for next-generation electronic devices.

More questions
What is WS2 used for?
Tungsten disulfide (WS2) is used in solid-film lubrication, dry lubricant for aerospace components, semiconductor device research, photodetectors, and catalysis for hydrogen evolution.
What is the band gap of WS2?
Tungsten disulfide (WS2) has a DFT-computed band gap of 1.26–1.81 eV across 190 reported structures.
Is WS2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.81 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is WS2 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Tungsten disulfide (WS2) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of WS2 are known?
190 structures of WS2 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 29 distinct space groups.
How is WS2 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for WS2 include solid state (2 procedures documented).
What elements does WS2 contain?
Tungsten disulfide (WS2) contains S and W (2 elements).
Where does the data for WS2 come from?
WS2 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the transition-metal dichalcogenides class.

Within the transition-metal dichalcogenide class, WS2 is one of the most extensively studied materials, sharing structural similarities with MoS2. While both materials exhibit comparable layered geometries and semiconducting behaviors, WS2 is often favored for applications requiring superior thermal stability and higher density compared to its molybdenum-based counterparts.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides in the database.

Data sources & attribution
  • latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform

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