Synthesis and characterization of MoO2/P(St-co-MMA-co-AA) microspheres via microemulsion by γ-ray radiation

MoO2/P(St-co-MMA-co-AA) nanocomposite microspheres have been successfully synthesized in microemulsion system by γ-ray radiation at room temperature and under ambient pressure. The influence of experimental conditions on the formation of nanocomposites was discussed, such as the ratio of oil/water, monomers content and concentration of ammonium molybdate. The possible mechanism of nanocomposites was also proposed. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). From XRD patterns, it is can be seen that the product is amorphous and the pure monoclinic MoO2 phase was gained by annealed at 400 °C in argon flow. TGA curve has only one big weight loss of polymer from 350 to 460 °C, hinting the formation of copolymer in the reaction. XPS spectra indicated that MoO2 exists on the surface of nanocomposite microspheres. The catalytic property was investigated in the conversion of CO into CO2, which showed about 80% conversion gained at 300 °C.

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