Nanomaterials are present everywhere today and represent the new industrial revolution. Depending on the application, there are many ways to synthesize nanomaterials with different properties. The industrial production of nanomaterials faces various challenges at different stages, going from conception and design to implementation and scaling-up of the production process, which can limit the growth of practical application at a large-scale scope, such as due to the lack of reproducibility, safety, and environmental impact. Here, we discuss current advances achieved for nanomaterial production at a large scale, encompassing a range of synthetic strategies and post-treatment modifications used to enhance the nanomaterials’ performance. A particular interest is devoted to highlighting the progress of MoS₂ nanomaterials’ application. Thus, overcoming those discussed challenges becomes a new prospect for the future perspectives of industrial nanomaterials and nanotechnologies.

The sensitivity analysis of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles synthesis process is studied using Aspen Plus with the aim of investigating the effect of reactants’ amounts on the production of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles. The adopted approach consists in simulating the synthesis process based on experimental data, obtained at laboratory scale followed by sensitivity analysis with respect to the following precursors: ammonium heptamolybdate, elemental sulfur, and hydrazine used as a reducing agent. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the precursors have more significant impact on the obtained amount of molybdenum disulfide compared to hydrazine. The obtained result showed that the approach adopted in the study might be of interest for further investigation of the process design and scaling-up.

The preparation of Mo _x S _y nanoparticles with different morphologies via a surfactant-assisted one-pot solvothermal route was reported. The concentration of surfactant was studied to evaluate its effects on the morphology and the size of the as obtained nanoparticles. The final products were comprehensively characterized using XRD, TEM, HRTEM, IR, TGA and XPS. It was found that at low surfactant concentration, MoS ₂ spherical shapes were obtained whereas tubular morphologies are formed at higher concentration. This issue has been discussed based on various relevant experimental data.

Amorphous MoS₂ spheres with diameters ranging from 150 nm to 1.5 μm are successfully prepared following a reliable one-pot hydrothermal route using a homemade autoclave and inexpensive reactants, at a low temperature (160 °C) and a short reaction time (12 h). The obtained material is comprehensively characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning-electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction pattern reveals the amorphous structure of the prepared sample without stacking layers, whereas scanning-electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images indicate the formation of spheres with regular shape and morphology.

Bimetallic nickel or cobalt molybdenum disulfide (MMoS ₂ , M=Ni or Co) nanospheres, with a diameter ranging between 450 nm and 1 μm, have been successfully synthesized using a mild solvothermal method. The obtained nanomaterials have been comprehensively characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR).