the present invention provides a process for obtaining fullerene - like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles , comprising feeding a metal precursor selected from metal halide , metal carbonyl , organo - metallic compound and metal oxyhalide vapor into a reaction chamber towards a reaction zone to interact with a flow of at least one chalcogen material in gas phase , the temperature conditions in said reaction zone being such to enable the formation of the fullerene - like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles product . the present invention further provides novel if metal chalcogenides nanoparticles with spherical shape and optionally having a very small or no hollow core and also exhibiting excellent tribological behavior . the present invention further provides an apparatus for preparing various if nanostructures .