On demand rapid patterning of colored amorphous molybdenum oxide using a focused laser beam

Abstract

We report a facile method to achieve rapid conversion and patterning of a carbon nanotube (CNT)–molybdenum sulfide (MoS_x) hybrid powder into a blue material via a focused laser beam. Characterization via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that amorphous molybdenum oxide MoO_x is the dominating component on the surface of the blue material. On the other hand, amorphous molybdenum oxide, CNT and crystalline MoO₃ coexist at the bottom. Comparison experiments reveal the indispensable role of both the focused laser beam and CNTs in the synthesis of amorphous MoO_x. Similar to other amorphous molybdenum oxide materials, a photochromic phenomenon is observed in the amorphous molybdenum oxide reported herein. Upon irradiation with ultraviolet light, the blue color turns deeper. This experiment provides a straightforward strategy for the synthesis and micropatterning of amorphous materials by combining a focused laser beam and appropriate hybrid raw materials.