A Structure-Preserving, Dimensionality-Increasing Strategy for the Stepwise Synthesis of Microporous α-MoO₃ with a...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Synthesizing metal oxides with specific structures is challenging, especially when using low-dimensional precursors.
• Existing methods often lead to structural reorganization, losing the precursor's original form.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a structure-preserving, dimensionality-increasing synthesis strategy.
• To create metastable 2D α-MoO₃ with controlled crystal facets and high surface area.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 0D [Mo₂O₅(H₂O)₆]²⁺ species as precursors.
• Employed a 1D [Mo₂O₆{(CH₃)₂NCHO}]_n intermediate.
• Applied temperature-controlled calcination for structure preservation.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized 2D α-MoO₃ with the (100) plane as the broad face, differing from conventional (010) face.
• Obtained metastable crystals with large surface areas and unusual micropores.
• Featured surface-exposed coordinatively unsaturated Mo sites.

Conclusions:

• The new strategy enables structure-preserving synthesis of dimensionality-increased materials.
• Metastable α-MoO₃ exhibits excellent potential as an acid catalyst.
• This approach facilitates the design of metastable structures and atomic-level surface modifications.