Thermal decomposition study of selected isopolymolybdates

The thermal decomposition of ammonium trimolybdate (NH₄)₂Mo₃O₁₀·H₂O, anilinium trimolybdate (C₆NH₈)₂Mo₃O₁₀·4H₂O and anilinium pentamolybdate (C₆NH₈)₂Mo₅O₁₆ in air and nitrogen has been investigated. The decomposition of molybdates was studied in situ by powder X-ray diffraction. Moreover, results of TG, as well as scanning microscopy studies, are presented. It was found that during thermal treatment in air phases of MoO_x type are obtained, while thermal treatment in nitrogen leads to obtaining a mixture of Mo_yC_z and Mo_pN_q. It is worth noting that even though chemical decomposition and formation of new compounds took place, in some cases needle-like or plate-like shapes of crystallites were preserved during thermal treatment.