MoO3−δ nanorods: Synthesis,characterization and magnetic properties

A novel preparation method of MoO_2.987 nanorods and the thorough investigation of their structural and magnetic properties by means of X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy as well as by scanning and transmission electron microscopy are reported. MoO_3−δ nanorods were prepared via hydrothermal treatment of a mixture made from molybdenum peroxide solution and oxalic acid. The presented synthesis approach is very simple, of low-cost and can be a perspective for industrial manufacturing. The resulting single crystalline nanorods exhibit diameters of 60–90 nm and lengths up to several micrometers. The crystal structure was found to be orthorhombic as in α-MoO₃. This agrees with our magnetization data which imply non-magnetic Mo⁶⁺ ions but show only a small amount of magnetic impurities giving rise to a weak paramagnetic response.