Laser Synthesis and Spectroscopy of Molybdenum Oxide\nNanorods

Abstract

Molybdenum\noxide nanorods have been synthesized using laser vaporization,\noxidation reactions, and ligand coating in a gas flow reactor, followed\nby capture in a cryogenic trap and transfer to solution. This method\nproduces small ligand-coated (acetonitrile) nanorods, 100 × 20\nnm in size, with excellent size uniformity that are soluble in several\ncommon solvents. The electronic and optical properties are consistent\nwith those of other known α-MoO₃ materials. Raman\nspectroscopy indicates these rods are semiamorphous as produced but\ncan be annealed to form crystalline MoO₃. The as-produced\nmaterial is highly reactive as a catalyst (degradation of methylene\nblue) but becomes less active following annealing. The laser synthesis\nmethod produces smaller, more reactive molybdenum oxide nanorods than\nother methods.