Rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles

Abstract

In this paper, molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanoparticles were synthesized by rapid-microwave method using ammonium heptamolybdate (AHM) as a precursor in ethylene glycol (EG) solution with concentrated HNO3. This reaction was carried out in a short period of 30 min and the nanoparticles were then heat treated at 600°C. The structures ofthe products were  analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to record the morphology and nanoparticle size of MoO3. The Raman spectrum of MoO3 displays three well-defined peaks located at 989.2, 816.0 and 665.3 cm-1 which are the fingerprints of the orthorhombicα-MoO3 crystalline phase.