Synthesis and characterization of MoO3/carbon clusters/ZrO2 composite materials

Nano-structured MoO3/carbon clusters/ZrO2 composite material has been successfully obtained by the microwave-treatment of a MoCl5/ZrCl4/starch/graphite complex. The compositions of the resulting composite materials were determined using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and surface characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of the composites were also measured. ESR spectra of the composite materials suggest that they have visible light-responsive catalytic ability with an electron transfer process of MoO3 → carbon clusters → ZrO2.