Hydrothermal Formation of W/Mo-Oxides: A Multidisciplinary Study of Growth and Shape

The hydrothermal formation of mixed nanoscale W/Mo-oxides with the hexagonal tungsten bronze (HTB) structure has been investigated by in situ EDXRD (energy dispersive X-ray diffraction). Compared to the binary oxide systems, they display intermediate kinetics with a nucleation-controlled mechanism dominated by the slow growing tungsten component. Furthermore, the thermal stability of nanostructured W/Mo-HTB compounds has been monitored through combined in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and XRD in reducing and oxidizing atmospheres. Their transformation into other mixed nanostructures was only observed above 300 °C in O 2 - and H 2 -containing atmospheres. In addition, the shape of nanoscale hexagonal W/Mo-oxides can be expanded into a variety of morphologies via the use of alkali chlorides as hydrothermal additives. The alkali cations exert a two-fold role as internal stabilizers and external shape control agents. Their mobility within the channels of the W/Mo-oxide host framework has been investigated by solid state NMR spectroscopy.