Intercalation of layered HMMoO6 (M = Ta, Nb) with oligomeric polyhydroxyacetato-Cr(III) species and propping up of HMMoO6 with chromium oxide as pillars

Two novel layered intercalates, oligomeric polyhydroxyacetato-Cr(III) species-intercalated layered tantalum molybdate and oligomeric polyhydroxyacetato-Cr(III) species-intercalated layered niobium molybdate, were synthesized by applying a stepwise ion-exchange route, in which LiTaMoO6 and LiNbMoO6 were used as the starting layered hosts, respectively, n-propylamine as the pre-expanding agent, and Cr(OAc)3 as the chromium source for preparing chromium-pillaring solutions. After the layered intercalates were calcined in air environment, CrOx-pillared layered HTaMoO6 and CrOx-pillared layered HNbMoO6 were produced. The layered intermediates obtained at each stage of the ions-exchange process and the calcined products were investigated by powder XRD, FT-IR, TGA, SEM, DR UV–Vis, elemental analysis and BET techniques. Some significant findings were presented. The photo-degradation performances of rhodamine B by using the CrOx-pillared layered products or their nitrogen-doped variants as the catalyst were also investigated.

Graphical abstractIntercalation of layered HMMoO6 (M = Ta, Nb) with oligomeric polyhydroxyacetato-Cr(III) species was achieved by a stepwise ion-exchange way. Upon calcination, CrOx-pillared HMMoO6 was produced.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide