Electron Structure of α‐, β‐Te2MoO7 and Photocatalytic Decomposition of Antibiotics

Abstract

AbstractTwo modifications of Te2MoO7 oxide have been prepared by different synthetic methods. The crystal structure and composition have been studied by X‐ray diffraction analysis and X‐ray microanalysis. The phase of α‐Te2MoO7 has been synthesized by solid‐state reaction from ammonium salts and characterized by monoclinic structure with P21/c. The β‐Te2MoO7 compound has been formed in hydrothermal conditions and has amorphous nature. The thermal behavior of β‐Te2MoO7 modification is characterized by the phase transition into α‐form, however after melting the amorphous state has restored. The electron structure has been investigated experimentally by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV‐vis diffusion reflectance spectra and theoretically by approximation using atomic electronegativity. Despite the same composition, the band gap of β‐Te2MoO7 corresponds to visible light, whereas α‐Te2MoO7 adsorbs light in UV region. The both modifications are able to generate superoxide radicals in vacuum or air and hydroxyl radicals in water under irradiation. The HPLC‐MS analysis has shown the quite deep decomposition of dye and antibiotics by α‐Te2MoO7, whereas amorphous phase almost does not lead to any oxidation.