Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of highly dispersed MoO3 nanospheres using 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane

With ultrasonic irradiation as assistance, highly dispersed MoO3 nanospheres were synthesized using silane coupling agent 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane HS-(CH2)(3)Si(OCH3)(3) (MPTS) as figuration agent. The results of X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD) showed that the precursor was hexagonal molybdenum oxide hydrate (MoO3 center dot 0.55H(2)O). It was converted into orthorhombic MoO3 after annealed at 400 degrees C for 2 h. Transmission electron microscopy ITEM) showed that MoO3 center dot 0.55H(2)O and MoO3 nanoparticles were spherical with particle-size distribution of ca. 30-80 nm and 25-75 nm, respectively. Results indicated that MPTS and ultrasonic irradiation played important role in formation of highly dispersed MoO3 nanospheres. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was also adopted to confirm the growth mechanism. The possible cause of formation was based on dispersion function of ultrasonic irradiation and figuration of MPTS. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.