Journal Article

PUBDB-2025-04512

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Mechanistic insights into solvent-guided growth and structure of MoO$_2$ nanoparticles in solvothermal synthesis

Graversen, L.Extern* ; Juelsholt, M.Extern* ; Aalling-Frederiksen, O.Extern* ; Friis-Jensen, U. ; Pittkowski, R.Extern* ; Thomsen, M. S.Extern* ; Kirsch, A.Extern* ; Magnard, N.Extern* ; Jensen, K. M. (Corresponding author)Extern*

2025
RSC Cambridge

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1039/D5SC03247D  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2025-04512

Abstract: Understanding the processes involved in the nucleation and growth of nanoparticles is essential for the development of tailored nanomaterials. Here, we investigate the solvent effects on the atomic structure and size of nanocrystalline MoO$_2$ obtained from a solvothermal synthesis and deduce their reaction pathways. Detailed pair distribution function (PDF) analysis reveals the formation of distinct MoO$_2$ structures, depending on the alcohol used. We show that the atomic structure and crystallite size of the formed materials are directly related to their formation pathway. In situ PDF analysis together with X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the reaction between MoCl$_5$ and an alcohol solvent allows us to see that larger nanoparticles (ca. 30 nm) with the conventional MoO2 distorted rutile structure form when the initial Cl/O-ligand exchange is fast, but the subsequent condensation and crystallization are slowed down in the synthesis process. On the other hand, when the Cl/O exchange is slowed down, a [MIVClxOy]-complex is formed, and we obtain very small nanoparticles (2–3 nm) with the MoO$_2$ high-pressure polymorph structure. The study shows how the chemistry of the reaction solvent affects the mechanistic pathways, and consequently the intermediate formed just prior to crystallization, which is directly applicable to the process of obtaining specific nanocrystalline materials.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. DOOR-User (DOOR ; HAS-User)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G3 - PETRA III (DESY) (POF4-6G3) (POF4-6G3)
2. MatMech - Live Tapings of Material Formation: Unravelling formation mechanisms in materials chemistry through Multimodal X-ray total scattering studies (804066) (804066)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P02.1 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Chemical Reactions ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DOAJ Seal ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; Index Chemicus ; JCR ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---