WS2 inorganic nanotubes (INT) and inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles (IF) are well-known for their high mechanical strength and as superior solid lubricants. The outermost WS2 layer is considered to be fully bonded; thus, it was suggested that the interactions of these WS2 nanostructures with their surroundings are governed by purely van der Waals (vdW) interactions. However, in the case of IF-WS2 nanoparticles, the faceted surface may contain sites with nonsaturated coordination, which, in turn, react with the surrounding media. Gold nanoparticles (GNP) were used as probes for the IF-WS2 surface defects, mapped by both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The interaction between the GNP and the reactive surface was investigated using INT-WS2 as a model and was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM).Keywords: inorganic fullerenes; inorganic nanotubes; gold nanoparticles; surface functionalization; surface defects; atomic force microscope