Nanoparticles of tungsten, tungsten nanoalloys and nanocompounds find wide application.

Nanoparticles comprising tungsten containing multi-metal oxides can be used as pigments. Because they are smaller than the visible wavelengths of light, it leads to visible wavelengths interacting in unusual ways with nanoparticles compared to macro particles. Inorganic pigments ensure homogeneous lattice level mixing of elements in a complex multi-metal formulation. In this context tungsten nanocompounds are ideally suited for creating color and making superior pigments.

Substances containing nanoscale tungsten such as tungsten disulfide are useful lubricating additives, because they enable thinner films, offering reduced costs and distribute forces more uniformly with higher performance to improve the life or motor or engine. The nanoparticles can enter and buffer or reside in crevices, troughs thereby reducing the internal pressures, forces and inefficient thermal effects. These additives can be dispersed in lubricating formulations. Tungsten disulfide, molybdenum disulfide, molybdenum tungsten sulfide and such inorganic or organic nanoparticle composition can be added as lubricating additives in shaving blades and other surfaces requiring minimization of friction.

Sodium tungsten oxide nanoparticles, in high purity form are useful in biochemical analysis. Tungsten nanoparticles in metallic form are useful in the analysis of carbon and sulfur by combustion in an induction furnace. The high surface area of nanoparticles comprising tungsten, with mean particle size less than 100 nanometers make them useful in these applications. Tungsten nanoparticles may also be used to form stronger polymer composites.

Tungsten nanomaterials offer several unusual benefits as electron emitters as the small size of nanoparticles can enable the formation of very thin film devices, lower the sintering temperatures and sintering times, exhibit inherently low vapor pressure even at high temperatures and have unusual quantum confinement and grain boundary effects enabling the preparation of improved electron emitting devices. they also offer novel compositions for chemical, mechanical polishing applications and electrical contacts. Photocopiers, facsimile machines, laser printers and air cleaners can benefit from charger wires prepared from tungsten comprising nanomaterials. Nanodevices having electrodes, chemical sensors, biomedical sensors, phosphors and anti-static coatings can be prepared from nanoscale powders comprising tungsten. Nanomaterials comprising tungsten are particularly useful as direct heated cathode or heater coils for indirectly heated cathodes in cathode ray tubes, displays, x-ray tubes, X-ray device anodes, klystrons, magnetrons for microwave ovens and electron tubes. Multimetal nanomaterial compositions comprising tungsten include those based on rare earths and thoria for high intensity discharge lamps and welding electrodes. The unusual combination of vapor pressure, electrical conductivity and electronic properties make nanomaterial compositions comprising tungsten useful as substrate for high power semiconductor rectifying devices, high voltage breakers, incandescent lamps such as household lamps, automotive lamps, and reflector lamps for floodlight or projector applications, audio-visual projectors, fiber-optical systems, video camera lights, airport runway markers, photo printers, medical and scientific instruments, and stage or studio systems. High temperature furnace parts such as heating coils, reflectors, thermocouples can also benefit from the quantum confined and low vapor pressure characteristics of tungsten nanomaterials.