Pancake-like Fe2(MoO4)3 microstructures: microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, magnetic and photocatalytic properties

Abstract

A fast and economical route based on microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction has been developed to synthesize pancake-like Fe₂(MoO₄)₃ microstructures. The phase and morphology of the products have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Several factors, including the amount of nitric acid, reaction time, temperature and iron source, play crucial roles in the formation of the Fe₂(MoO₄)₃ multilayer stacked structures. Detailed studies indicate that the oriented attachment and layer-by-layer self-assembly of nanosheets is responsible for the formation of these structures. The magnetic and photocatalytic properties of the product have also been investigated.