Preparations of pure alkaline earth molybdate phases from single molecular precursors

Abstract

The pure phases of alkaline earth molybdates MMoO4, where M=Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba, were synthesized via the calcination of the related citrato oxomolybdate complexes. The mixed metal oxides can be highly dispersed at the atomic level due to the existence of uniform citrato oxomolybdenum precursors in definite composition. The complexing effect helps to produce the fine-grained oxides with particle size in the ultrafine scale(<100 nm) at heat-treatment temperatures below 500 degreesC. The structures of the precursor complexes and the finally heat-treated particles were studied by means of IR, XRD, DSC, DTA and TG techniques. The morphologies of the particles were observed by using the SEM technique. The average particle sizes were calculated to be in the range of 30-50 nm based on X-ray diffraction line-broadening and SEM images, indicating the poor conglomeration of crystallite at low temperatures.