Influence of doping on the preferential growth of α-MoO3

MoO3 is a lamellar material with applications in different areas, as solid lubricants, catalysis, solar cells, etc. In the present work, MoO3 powders, synthesized by the polymeric precursor method, were doped with nickel or cobalt. The powder precursors were characterized by TG/DTA. After calcination between 500 and 700 °C, the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. β-MoO3 was obtained after calcination at low temperatures. With the temperature increase, α-MoO3 is observed, with a preferential growth of the (0 2k 0) planes, when the material is doped and calcined at 700 °C. Doping with nickel increases five times the preferential growth. As a consequence, plate-like particles are observed.