Synthesis and characterization of novel nanoscopic molybdenum oxide fibers

A molybdenum oxide with high aspect ratio has been synthesized by a template-directed process. The reaction of molybdic acid and primary amines with long alkyl chains, followed by hydrothermal treatment, led to a lamellar molybdenum oxide–amine composite. The subsequent removal of the intercalated amines with nitric acid yielded a pure molybdenum oxide phase with a fibrous morphology. According to X-ray powder diffraction and chemical analysis, these fibers crystallize with the structure of α-MoO3·H2O. Electron microscopy investigations have revealed that the fibers are up to 15 µm long and that their diameters generally range from 50 to 150 nm. The presented synthesis approach uses a cheap and air-stable precursor and, thus, provides an advantageous access to gram quantities of this novel anisotropic nanomaterial.