title: Synthesis of Lower Valent Molybdenum Oxides by an Ambient Temperature Reduction of Aqueous K(2)MoO(4) by KBH(4).
abstract: Reduction of aqueous K(2)MoO(4) with aqueous KBH(4) at ambient temperatures has been investigated systematically to obtain lower valent molybdenum oxides. Several lower valent oxides such as MoO(2), Mo(4)O(11), K(0.26)MoO(3) (red bronze), K(0.30)MoO(3) (blue bronze), and K(0.85)Mo(6)O(17) are formed during the reduction process; however, only MoO(2) has been obtained as single-phase product. The nature of the product formed is strongly influenced by the reducing power of KBH(4). The reducing power increases with decreasing pH or increasing concentration and volume of KBH(4). The as-prepared samples are amorphous as revealed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. They crystallize sharply at around 350-500 degrees C as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry. Since the products formed are amorphous in nature, they may become particularly attractive for battery electrodes and catalysis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Materials Science & Engineering, ETC 9.104, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712.
authors.forename: C.
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: A.
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dananjay
authors.forename: J.
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: A.
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manthiram