Molybdenum polysulfide hollow microtubules grown at room temperature from solution

Reaction of (NH4)(2)MoS4 and (NH2OH)(2). H2SO4 under hydrothermal condition s led to the new compound (NH3- OH)(3.9)MoS4.8 I, which crystallises from a cetone solution producing hollow tubules of nanoscopic size (50-500 nm diam eter, 0.1-20 mu m length); thermal decomposition of I led to the formation of highly dispersed tubular MoS2.