Some structural features of MoO 3-1,10-phenanthroline intercalation compounds

Abstract

Three MoO 3-1,10-phenanthroline intercalation compounds were synthesized at room temperature, by suspending α-MoO 3 in a water–ethanol solution of 1,10-phenanthroline. The obtained hybrid matrices were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. Based on X-ray diffraction data, can be verified that ate two possible orientations of 1,10-phenanthroline into MoO 3 interlayer space: an orientation to allow the interaction of the nitrogen atoms with the acidic Lewis sites on the oxide surface (d=1.10 nm), and another orientation to allow the interaction of the π electrons with such sites (d=0.76 nm). The SEM micrographs show that as the 1,10-phenanthroline total amount is increased, there is a progressive exfoliation of the oxide grains, resulting in the total disruption of the initial platy morphology.