Crystal Structure of the Product of Mg2+Insertion into V2O5Single Crystals

Abstract

Chemical (by interaction with a dibutylmagnesium solution) and electrochemical (in acetonitrile solution of magnesium perchlorate) insertion of Mg2+into the single crystals of V2O5was performed. The morphology change of V2O5crystals as a result of the Mg2+insertion was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The wavelength dispersive electron probe microanalysis clearly showed the presence of Mg (at least) at the surface of intercalated V2O5. Based on the single crystal X-ray diffraction study of intercalated V2O5(orthorhombic,Pmn21,a= 11.544(6),b= 4.383(3),c= 3.574(2) Å,Z= 4) the location of a small amount of Mg (∼1%) in the bulk V2O5may be suggested, with [6 + 4] oxygen atoms surrounding Mg. The resulting Mg–O separations essentially exceed the accepted values for the Mg–O distances in crystals with hexacoordinated Mg atoms, which may be correlated with the structural and electrochemical properties of Mg2+-inserted V2O5.