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This study aims to enhance electrochemical energy storage in supercapacitors by optimizing the synthesis temperature of MoO 3 nanostructures using a hydrothermal technique. MoO 3 nanostructures were synthesized using a hydrothermal technique, with reaction temperatures ranging from 140 to 230 °C for 24 h. The materials were analyzed using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. The findings indicate that at 200 °C, a pure hexagonal phase of MoO 3 was obtained, while different temperatures resulted in a combination of orthorhombic and hexagonal phases. The SEM analysis demonstrated that the morphology of the MoO 3 nanostructures varied depending on the synthesis temperature. These variations encompass the particles, spherical planar structures, and nanorods. The prepared samples were subjected to electrochemical analysis to explore their electrochemical properties, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD). The electrochemical performances of the prepared samples varied depending on the temperature at which the MoO 3 samples were prepared, resulting in different morphologies. The sample prepared at 220 °C exhibited the highest specific capacitance (C S) of 330 F/g, a minimal charge-transfer resistance (R CT) of 1800 Ω, an energy density of 16.50 Wh/kg, and a power density of 150 W/kg with symmetric and asymmetric device C S values of 125 and 115 F/g, respectively, compared to the other prepared samples. The observed outcomes can be attributed to the diverse morphology of MoO 3 nanostructures and the high electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of 7.43 × 10−5 F/cm2 that were synthesized at different hydrothermal temperatures. This diversity in morphology and ECSA leads to the presence of active surface area sites, thereby enhancing electrochemical activity. These findings highlight the effect of synthesis temperature on the morphology, crystal structure, and electrochemical performance of MoO 3 nanostructures for supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for materials to treat wastewater is especially crucial. Herein, we have prepared 1D molybdenum oxide (MoO 3) nanobelts through a hydrothermal approach. The binary (MoO 3 /SiO 2) and ternary composites of MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene were synthesized via ultrasonication route. The as-prepared MoO 3 , MoO 3 /SiO 2, and MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene composites were employed to investigate the photocatalytic behavior of two organic dyes, methyl orange (MO) and crystal violet (CV). The % degradation of MO in the presence of MoO 3 nanobelts and MoO 3 /SiO 2 was calculated to be 48.9 % and 74.4 %, respectively. In the case of CV dye, the degradation (%) was observed at 53.7 % and 75.9 %. The MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene composite revealed the best photocatalytic behavior against both MO and CV dyes by removing 94.7 % and 97.7 % under visible light irradiation. The rate constant values of MoO 3 nanobelts, MoO 3 /SiO 2 and MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene composite for MO dye were calculated to be 0.00568 min−1, 0.01156 min−1, and 0.02399 min−1 and for CV dye 0.00679 min−1, 0.01208 min−1, and 0.02798 min−1 respectively. A scavenging test was carried out to monitor the main photo-active species that take part during the photocatalysis and hydroxyl radicals were found to be the highly active species during whole photodegradation progression. The SiO 2 particles function as a good adsorbent medium and transfer the adsorbed organics toward more active sites to advance the reaction. 2D MXene nanosheets, as good conductors, reduce the recombination rate of charges, offer large surface area, and facilitate fast transfer of charges. The results suggest that MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene composite is a potential contender for wastewater remediation applications. [Display omitted] • Ternary composite (MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene) was synthesized using an ultrasonication approach, with a crystallite size of 19.48 nm. • SEM analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of MoO 3 nanobelts and their ternary composite with SiO 2 and MXene sheets. • The synthesized samples were utilized for the photodegradation of two organic dyes, Crystal Violet and Methyl Orange. • The MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene nanocomposite demonstrated the highest photocatalytic activity against both dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the thin film-photovoltaics, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are one of the most developing topics of research in recent times. Research records reveal that around 26 % efficiency in PSCs has already been achieved so far. However, the commercialization of those PSCs is hindered due to the toxicity of lead (Pb), and the instability of organic cations as well as structural volatility. Several inorganic materials including inorganic hole transport layer (HTL) have recently been proposed and developed to reduce the organic part in the device structure. We fabricate MoO 3 thin film materials and conduct a detailed study to realize the potential of MoO 3 as a unique HTL for application in PSCs. The synthesis of MoO 3 thin film includes several characterization techniques e.g. XRD, FESEM, EDX, UV–Vis, and Hall Effect measurement. We design a MoO 3 thin film-based, lead-free PSC structure of FTO/MoO 3 /PTAA/(FA) 2 BiCuI 6 /ZnO/Ag and perform numerical analysis using the SCAPS-1D simulation tool. In the device simulation process, we use the experimentally obtained optoelectrical properties of the MoO 3 film and achieve a maximum efficiency of around 22.28 % in a contained lead-free PSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composite MoO 3 / Me MoO 4 (Me = Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, and Mn) ceramics were obtained by standard high-temperature sintering. Their structure was tested using XRD, SEM, EDS, and XPS. The occurrence of two phases was determined. The main MoO 3 phase exhibited an orthorhombic Pnma space group related to the ceramic grain of micrometre size. The second phase was induced by doping with the Me atom. It showed various monoclinic structures and a smaller grain size. The XPS test confirmed the coexistence of the phases, which was reflected in several lines in the patterns. The valence band of the undoped MoO 3 was located ∼3.3 eV below the Fermi level. An additional subband attributed to the Me 3d state was detected within the energy gap. The MoO 3 / Me MoO 4 composites showed a valence band shifted toward the Fermi level and overlapped with the subband, originating from hybridized Mo 4d – Me 3d states. Magnetic susceptibility showed an antiferromagnetic state below ∼20 K for the Ni- and Fe-doped composites. The estimated magnetic moment magnitudes indicated the contribution from Me 2+ and Me 3+ ions that marked the occurrence of oxygen vacancies. Diffuse reflectance spectra exhibited anomalies in the Vis (∼500–650 nm) and the NIR (∼700–850 nm) ranges and tails in the ∼900–1000 nm range. The estimated magnitudes of energy gaps were attributed to defect-induced states. They corresponded to deduced oxygen vacancies (2.05–2.38 eV) and states or subbands induced by the introduced Me atoms (1.34–1.89 eV). Electric dc resistivity temperature dependence showed thermally activated dependence. The estimated activation energy varied from 0.27 eV to 0.58 eV, depending on the doping of the Me atom. The electric features were consistent with the electronic structure determined using XRD and XPS tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of triethylamine (TEA) is critical to environmental safety and daily life. However, detailed challenges remain for TEA gas sensors, such as low-cost and facile synthetic methods, and low working temperatures. In this study, a combination of hydrothermal and wet chemical approaches is utilized for the rational construction of α -MoO 3 @WO 3 with a sheet-like nanostructure. Additionally, the sensing performances towards triethylamine are investigated. According to the results, it was found that the α -MoO 3 @WO 3 sensor has a higher response value (80.4) and faster response and recovery times (9/26 s) than those of pristine MoO 3 at low optimum temperature (200 °C). Again, the α -MoO 3 @WO 3 based sensor also demonstrated high selectivity to TEA as well as good stability. The enhancement of the MoO 3 @WO 3 sensor's gas-sensitive mechanism may be attributed to the formation of n-n heterojunction between MoO 3 and WO 3 and the synergistic effect of both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pt-based catalysts are limited in applications greatly due to the scarcity and high cost of the platinum resource. Reducing the load of Pt and improving its utilization are effective strategies to solve the limitations of application for Pt-based catalysts. Herein, a hydrogenated MoO 3 (H x MoO 3 , 0 < x ≤ 2) is employed, which has electrical conductivity as well as reducing properties, to fabricate low-Pt-loading catalysts supported by a carbon cloth (CC) sheet for the hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). Thanks to the single atoms of platinum, the as-prepared Pt/H x MoO 3 @CC catalyst exhibits excellent HER performances and the overpotential is only 53 mV at 10 mA/cm2. The proposed strategy for fabricating Pt-based single-atom catalysts could promote the practical application of the HER of water splitting in electrochemical processes. Catalyst with ultralow Pt loading supported by a carbon cloth can be fabricated by using an electrodeposition method combing with redox reactions. The as-prepared catalyst with ∼0.1 % Pt loading exhibits high HER performance. [Display omitted] • Carbon cloth sheets with uniform H x MoO 3 coatings are prepared by an electrodeposition method. • The reducibility of hydrogenated MoO 3 can achieve Pt loading in single-atom form. • Pt/H x MoO 3 @CC exhibits high HER performance due to the Pt single atoms loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the use of roll-up nickel films as catalysts for the dehydrogenation of sodium borohydride (NaBH 4). The proposed structure, consisting of a 345-nm-thick Ni film and a 100-nm-thick sacrificial layer, is naturally rolled-up due to thermal stress induced by physical vapor deposition or additional heating. The catalytic performance was evaluated using the water displacement method, and it was found that a three-layer stacked structure using amorphous MoO 3 as the sacrificial layer showed maximum efficiency. The stability of the structure was maintained even after repeated use, and surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the presence of Mo component that accelerates the rate of hydrolysis. Zeta potential and Kelvin probe force microscopy analysis further revealed that the amount of surface electrons of the Ni catalyst can be changed according to the sacrificial layer used. Based on these findings, MoO 3 /Ni/MoO 3 and layered structures were found to have excellent catalytic performance. Importantly, the wafer can be reused, and the catalytic efficiency is maintained even with a low-thickness nickel catalyst, suggesting the economic advantage. This study offers insights into the development of cost-effective and high-performance catalysts for hydrogen generation. • 3D catalyst based on self-rolled nickel with high area/mass ratio was reported. • The MoO 3 sacrificial layer improves the catalytic activity by providing free electrons. • The catalyst and substrate can be reused, making it cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Aqueous proton battery is considered as a promising candidate for the electrochemical energy storage system with the merits of safety, environmental benignity, fast kinetics and low cost. The realization of these advantages relies on the development of suitable and easy-access electrode materials. Herein, micron-sized H 2 MoO 3 /Polyaniline (PANI) is developed as a high-rate and stable anode material in proton battery. Contrary to the pseudocapacitive nature of most anode materials, the H 2 MoO 3 /PANI presents diffusion-controlled charge storage mechanism with both high capacity and high rate-capability. The H 2 MoO 3 /PANI electrode shows a rather high capacity of 268.2 mAh g−1 at 1.0 A g−1, and a surprisingly high rate-capability with ∼50% capacity retention even at an extremely high current density of 200.0 A g−1. Detailed analyses demonstrate the Grotthuss mechanism of ultrafast proton conduction in H 2 MoO 3 /PANI. The constructed proton full cell based on H 2 MoO 3 /PANI delivers a high energy density of 42.1 Wh kg−1 at 800.0 W kg−1. Impressively, the proton full cell shows fast proton transportation even in the frozen electrolyte, and ∼70% of the room temperature capacity is retained at −20 °C. These excellent proton storage behaviors provide insights into the practical applications of micron-sized electrode materials in proton batteries at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversible and repeatable control of rare earth ions doped down-shift luminescence materials induced by the external field stimulation can be applied more widely. However, there is still a challenge on reversible luminescence regulation of photochromism-induced rare earth ions doped down-shift luminescence materials by light fields stimulation. The MoO 3 : Eu3+ phosphors changed color from light green to blue due to the formation of color centers caused by the trapping of electrons by oxygen vacancy defects under near infrared irradiation at 808 nm, and recovered from blue to initial light green after heating at 500 °C, showing a reversible change in color. The down-shift luminescence intensity of MoO 3 : Eu3+ phosphors reaches the maximum quenching degree, about 87%, after 20 s irradiation by 808 nm laser, which has the characteristics of fast response and great regulation rate. Moreover, the down-shift luminescence intensity can recover to the initial intensity after heating at 500 °C for 90 s, indicating reversible regulation of photochromism-induced down-shift luminescence. The application of MoO 3 : Eu3+ phosphors as the anti-counterfeiting labels and information storage of binary encoding was designed, these results suggest that it have certain potential applications in anti-counterfeiting and optical storage field. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, using only high alumina fly ash as raw material and MoO 3 as additive agent, the high-strength porous mullite ceramics were achieved by in situ mullite whisker growth via a calcination method. The influence of MoO 3 addition on pore structure and mechanical properties of as-prepared mullite ceramics was investigated. The mechanism of MoO 3 promoting the formation of mullite whiskers and improving the strength of matrix was elucidated. The porous mullite ceramic reached its best performance with a high porosity of 49.4% and an improved compressive strength of 13.03 MPa with 10 wt% MoO 3 addition calcinated at 1300 °C. Specifically, MoO 3 facilitated the mullite whisks growth mainly by reducing melting point of amorphous SiO 2 /quartz and changing crystal structure of Al 2 O 3. The larger aspect ratio of mullite grain at 1300 °C was easier to form an interlocking structure, which enhanced the strength of mullite ceramic while maintaining high porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of glasses in the ZnO–MoO 3 –TeO 2 system were synthesized by conventional melt quenching technique. Thermal, optical, structural, and electrical properties of glasses were investigated according to the i) varying ZnO and MoO 3 content at constant TeO 2 and ii) substitution of TeO 2 for ZnO + MoO 3 in equimolar ratio. Substitution of glass former TeO 2 for ZnO and/or MoO 3 resulted in continuous structural transformation of TeO 4 trigonal bipyramid units and to decomposition of tellurite network. The polaronic process is the major charge transport mechanism in these glasses, with charge transfer primarily occurring through the tellurite glass network. Evaluating the relationship between structural changes and electrical properties revealed that molybdenum oxide has a positive effect on electrical conductivity of glasses due to its weaker bonds. However, a free electron transport through the glass network is limited by Zn2+ ions. ZnO–MoO 3 –TeO 2 glasses with their wide optical transmittance interval from 460 nm to 6.5 μm, reaching above 70%, and the refractive index in the range of 1.96–2.15, and their relatively high electrical conductivity may find application in novel optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A method for constructing MoTe 2 /MoO 3 heterostructure has been proposed. • The response time of devices has been improved by three orders of magnitude, the rise time/decay time reaches 78/49 μs. • A 6-fold increase in hole mobility of field-effect devices was achieved, reaching 33.66 cm2/(V·s).. Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe 2) has attracted wide attention due to its unique crystal structure and outstanding optical and electrical properties in photodetection. However, as a bipolar material, MoTe 2 is more sensitive to environmental factors compared to other 2D materials. Interface issues in MoTe 2 devices severely affect their photodetection performance. Here, we focus on improving the material and dielectric interface and propose a highly sensitive photodetector based on a MoO 3 -MoTe 2 heterostructure. Through interface engineering, MoO 3 not only serves as a substrate dielectric layer to improve the material and dielectric interface but also forms a heterostructure with MoTe 2 , inducing charge transfer and realizing a p-n junction with a large built-in electric field. Due to these characteristics, the device exhibits excellent photodetection performance with an open-circuit voltage V oc = 0.46 V and short-circuit current I sc = 210nA. In 532 nm self-powered mode, the responsivity of the device is 2 mA /W, with a light-to-dark ratio of approximately 105, rise/decay times of 78/49 μs, and a cutoff frequency exceeding 7 kHz. This work provides inspiration for the future development of high-performance photodetectors, with MoO 3 as a substrate showing promise for achieving high optical responsivity and fast response in 2D material photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MoO 3 /MWCNT-9 showed high response to NH 3 at room temperature and good selectivity. • Pulse voltage to help the MoO 3 /MWCNT-9 gas sensor desorption ammonia. • Detailed explanation of NH 3 sensing mechanism. Herein, a resistive gas sensor based on Molybdenum tri oxide (MoO 3)/ 9 % mass fraction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-9) nanocomposites was developed by hydrothermal method to detect NH 3 gas at room temperature. According to the findings, outstanding resistance change rate of 187.5 % was observed in MoO 3 /MWCNT-9 sensor when exposed to 100 ppm NH 3 at room temperature (25 °C). In contrast, 8.2 % response rate was recorded for pure MoO 3 sensor when exposed to same condition and the response value of newly fabricated sensor was improved by about 22.9 times to unalloyed MoO 3. In addition, the nanocomposite sensor consisting of MoO 3 /MWCNT-9 had demonstrated excellent selectivity, repeatability, and a high level of sensitivity in detecting low concentrations of NH 3 at low temperature. During experiment when the sensor desorbed NH 3 gas at room temperature, a certain instantaneous voltage was applied, which greatly reduces the sensor's resistance recovery time to 90 s. MWCNTs's doping decreased the operating temperature of MoO 3 and showed good gas sensitivity at room temperature. Finally, the results reveal that MoO 3 /MWCNT-9 nanocomposite-based sensor can be fruitful in the field of NH 3 monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a comprehensive hydrometallurgical processing of molybdenite (MoS 2) concentrate was investigated. This investigation involved a novel approach combining mechanical activation, leaching, and polyelectrolyte extraction methods. The integrated method effectively addressed the challenge of low leaching rate of molybdenite, resulting in the successful production of high-purity molybdenum trioxide. Milled molybdenite samples were analyzed by different methods of X-ray diffraction, atomic force and electron microscopy, and BET. The increasing trend of the specific surface area during milling was determined by a model fitting which was useful for optimization of milling time. Several leaching reagents were studied to achieve high molybdenum dissolution. The most promising results were achieved through a two-hour process, yielding an impressive leaching efficiency of 80% and a resulting Mo concentration of 6700 mg/L. Molybdenum recovery was efficiently carried out through polyelectrolyte extraction, as confirmed by ICP and CHNS analyses, demonstrating selective precipitation of molybdenum from the solution. The subsequent calcination of the precipitated molybdenum(VI) compound resulted in the production of high-purity molybdenum trioxide. Furthermore, a conceptual hydrometallurgical treatment process for molybdenite concentrate was proposed, aiming to recover molybdenum, sulfuric acid, and copper. This proposed process presents a promising avenue for further exploration in pilot plant studies within the molybdenum industry. [Display omitted] • Finding solutions for scaling-up challenges of hydrometallurgical treatment of MoS 2. • Evaluation of synergistic effect of acids to stabilize molybdenum in solution. • A complete flowsheet for a low-emission process for Mo recovery. • An industrially feasible production of MoO 3 from MoS 2 without sulfur oxides emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new kinetic model describing the methanol reduction of metal oxides has been proposed. • The effects of temperature on the particle's morphologies and size are illustrated. • The reduction mechanisms and reaction pathway were investigated based on thermodynamic and thermogravimetric analysis. Alcohols, represented by methanol, have received attention as a new type of reducing agent in various fields, including carbide synthesis, surface carburization etc. In order to clarify the reduction routes, reaction mechanisms and influencing factors on the morphology of the products during the methanol dominated reduction process, this work examined the preparation of molybdenum hemicarbide by reducing and carbonizing MoO 3 with methanol. We used a combination of thermodynamic calculations, thermogravimetric analysis and XRD to clarify the reduction path of MoO 3 at different temperatures, and characterized the morphology evolution of the product using SEM. Furthermore, a novel kinetic mathematical model was proposed to account for the intricate reaction involving methanol and multivalent oxide, which incorporated numerous parameters with practical physical significance, enhancing its predictive precision. In summary, our findings provide valuable insights into thermodynamics, kinetics, and experimental aspects of reactions involving methanol, offering guidance for controlled carbide particle synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum oxide (MoO 3) is a promising catalyst for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction (eNRR). However, Mo sites with saturated coordination are not favorable to stable N 2 adsorption. Herein, we employed sodium ions as electron donors to interact with the interlayer atoms of MoO 3 , causing localized lattice stress on it and weakening the M-O bond, thus inducing the Mo5+ active sites (Na x MoO 3). The N 2 temperature-programmed desorption (N 2 -TPD) result of the as-prepared Na x MoO 3 exhibits that introducing Mo5+ could significantly improve the N 2 adsorption on the catalyst's surface. The optimized Na x MoO 3 has an NH 3 yield of 41.3 μg h−1 mg−1 at ambient temperature and an FE of 21.4 %, which is in the relatively advanced position in the contemporaneous studies. Both experiments and density-functional theory (DFT) calculation demonstrated that the Mo5+ sites can effectively reduce the d-orbital energy level of Mo, which significantly enhances the interaction with N 2. [Display omitted] • More Mo5+ active sites were introduced in Na x MoO 3 by Na intercalation. • DFT calculations indicate that introducing Mo5+ sites leads to more strong d-π* interaction, thus boosting N 2 activation. • In situ FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the evolution of N 2 on Na x MoO 3 catalyst. • Na x MoO 3 exhibited significantly improved eNRR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using radio frequency magnetron sputtering (RFMS), the undoped and Ti-doped vertical nanowall structured MoS 2 thin films were grown. In order to benefit from the chromic properties of the MoO 3 and inherited surface/volume ratio of the vertical nanowall structures of the MoS 2 , these films thermally oxidized to α-MoO 3 while retaining the morphology. Measurements of in-situ transmittance during the oxidation process revealed that the MoS 2 samples with a highTi content oxidized more quickly. On the other hand, the presence of Ti has led to denser nanowall formations. Optical modulation (OM) in the visible region improved with increasing Ti concentration within the coloring potential range of -0.2 to -0.45 V, which are relatively low working voltages that indicate energy efficient electrochromic materials. The highest Ti-doped MoO 3 (MTO40) and undoped (MBO) samples exhibit 52.2 % and 37.6 % OM at 700 nm (47.8 % and 25.7 %, respectively, at 550 nm) under -0.45 V applied potential. On the other hand, the coloring times for MBO, MTO20, MTO30, and MTO40 are 4.7, 4.1, 6.2, and 2.9 s, respectively, while the bleaching durations are 3.1, 1.4, 1.1, and 1.2 s for samples. These Ti-doped MoO 3 electrochemical characteristics demonstrate the suitability of the proposed technique for device applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Thin film NO 2 gas sensors based on MoO 3 /SiO 2 were developed at room temperature by reactive sputtering. • The MoO 3 /SiO 2 showed good sensing response around ∼ 9.15 towards 200 ppm NO 2 gas. • The response and recovery times were evaluated as 114 sec and 106 sec at 200 ppm NO 2. • Highly stable and selective nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) detection was achieved by the MoO 3 /SiO 2 thin film sensor. This work explores an easy and efficient approach for developing NO 2 gas sensors based on one-step sputtered nanocrystalline molybdenum trioxide (nc-MoO 3). The sample's morphology, crystallinity, and purity were analyzed using FESEM, XRD, and XPS, respectively. The MoO 3 thin film sensor displayed its highest sensor response (SR = R g /R a) of ∼ 9.15 when exposed to 200 ppm of NO 2 gas at the optimal operating temperature of 300℃, with response and recovery times of about 114 and 106 s, respectively. The sensor also displayed high selectivity and stability. With the expeditious approach and outstanding performance, the sputtered bare MoO 3 thin films can be used for sparing NO 2 gas detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a simple one-step hydrothermal approach was used to successfully manufacture a novel indium doped molybdenum trioxide (In–MoO 3) photocatalyst for enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated light. The structural characterization of In–MoO 3 confirms successful addition of indium ions to the MoO 3 lattice. Importantly, the performance of the doped samples was significantly enhanced when the doping mass of indium accounted for 5 % under simulated light, and the RhB degradation rate reached 96.2 %. Even after four cycles, the doped sample proved to maintain excellent cycling stability. The proposed photocatalytic mechanism for the RhB degradation by In–MoO 3 is presented. It is revealed that ·OH acts as the primary active species in this photocatalytic system, while ·O 2 − also plays a supporting role. Indium doping improves the light absorption and effectively reduces the interfacial charge transfer resistance and bandgap width, leading to significant progress in the photocatalytic performance of MoO 3. • Novel photocatalyst indium doped MoO 3 was fabricated successfully. • The photocatalytic performance of indium doped MoO 3 is superior to that of pure MoO 3. • Indium doped MoO 3 has smaller forbidden bandwidth and charge transfer resistance compared to pure MoO 3. • Possible photodegradation mechanism of RhB were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The regular lamellar structure of g-C 3 N 4 was regulated into a porous nitrogen defect-rich structure. • The constructed direct Z-scheme g-C 3 N 4-x /MoO 3 heterojunction was an efficient photocatalyst. • The •O 2 – and •OH were the primary active species for photocatalytic removal of TC. • The toxicity of TC degradation intermediates was explored and possible degradation pathway was proposed. Utilizing photocatalysis to degrade antibiotics in wastewater is a vital strategy. Here, a Z-scheme heterojunction was synthesized, consisting of defect-rich porous g-C 3 N 4 and MoO 3 , which exhibits remarkable photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). The results revealed that the optimal heterojunction sample exhibited a 2.47-fold enhancement of degradation efficiency compared with porous g-C 3 N 4-x. Characterization analysis shows that the significant enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effects arising from the Z-scheme heterostructure and the introduction of nitrogen (N) defects, which collectively enhance the charge separation and light absorption capabilities of the material. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and free radical quenching experiments indicate that the vital degradation mechanism is the assault of •O 2 – and •OH on tetracycline. Additionally, the LC-MS studies demonstrated possible intermediates and degradation pathway of TC. The toxicity simulation analysis revealed that the heterojunction sample effectively mitigated the toxicity of tetracycline solution. This catalyst exhibits promising potential for applications in the elimination of antibiotics from aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical preintercalation of layered materials, used as electrodes in intercalation-based energy storage devices, represents a promising strategy to enhance electrochemical stability and extend cycle life. However, standardized synthesis approaches for the chemical preintercalation of diverse ions into various layered materials are lacking, necessitating the development of specific synthesis routes for each ion and layered phase combination. In this study, we present the first successful demonstration of Mg2+ ion chemical preintercalation into the interlayer region of α-MoO 3 , revealing its stabilizing effect during cycling in non-aqueous Li-ion cells. Using ethanol during hydrothermal treatment facilitated molybdenum reduction, which was critical for Mg2+ ion preintercalation. Interestingly, we found that Mg preintercalation was accompanied by the incorporation of water. Mg-preintercalated α-MoO 3 exhibited enhanced charge storage capacity, electrochemical stability, and power capability compared to pristine α-MoO 3 electrodes. This improved performance is attributed to the structural stabilization provided by Mg2+ pillars, which prevent undesirable phase transformations during repeated Li intercalation/deintercalation, and increased Li+ ion diffusion due to the shielding of electrostatic interactions between electrochemically cycled ions and the α-MoO 3 lattice, enabled by structural water. Our study offers new insights into developing chemical preintercalation synthesis approaches that can be broadly applied to a wide range of pillaring ions and layered material hosts. [Display omitted] • Ethanol used in hydrothermal process enabled synthesis of Mg-preintrecalated α-MoO 3. • Mg preintercalation is accompanied by the incorporation of interlayer water. • Improved electrochemical stability is enabled by stabilizing Mg2+ pillars. • Shielding effect of interlayer H 2 O molecules facilitates Li+ diffusion. • Mg-preintrecalated α-MoO 3 can be used in beyond Li-ion energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Changing atmosphere can regulate MoO 3 microstructure, and construct rich oxygen vacancies. • The non-crystallizing MoO 3 is effortless to generate oxygen vacancy with H 2 -Ar atmosphere treatment. • The defected MoO 3 -H can efficiently enhance propionic acid selectivity. • The defected MoO 3 -H offered propionic acid selectivity of 64.7 % at 215 °C. Regulation of MoO 3 microstructure was explored at different atmospheres, which was further evaluated for catalytic performance on lactic acid hydrodeoxygenation. Catalyst structure was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, HRTEM, and oxygen vacancies were measured by EPR and XPS spectra. It was found that the direct H 2 -Ar treatment generated an obvious change in MoO 3 microstructure to form rich oxygen vacancies in MoO 3 -H, and the succedent H 2 -Ar treatment had negligible influence in MoO 3 -A-H, indicating that the non-crystallizing MoO 3 is effortless to generate oxygen vacancy with H 2 -Ar atmosphere treatment. Correspondingly, MoO 3 -H achieved 58.6 % of lactic acid conversion and 64.7 % of propionic acid selectivity much higher than MoO 3 -A-H with 41.7 % of lactic acid conversion and 56.9 % of propionic acid selectivity, which also outperformed most of the LA hydrodeoxygenation catalysts in propionic acid selectivity. This work demonstrates that the calcined atmospheres can efficiently regulate MoO 3 microstructure to form rich oxygen vacancies for lactic acid hydrodeoxygenation to propionic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The efficiency of solar cells was evaluated by studying the impact of seven different hole transport layers (HTLs) in the Ag/FTO/ETL/Ca 3 NCl 3 /HTL/Ni structure. • The absorber, ETL, and HTL layers were adjusted in terms of thickness, acceptor density, donor density, and defect density. • The solar cell achieved its highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 28.13 %, with a V OC of 1.36 V, a J SC of 22.89 mA/cm2, and a fill factor (FF) of 90.36 % using the Ag/FTO/SnS 2 /Ca 3 NCl 3 /MoO 3 /Ni structure. • This setup offers significant advantages for the assessment of future solar cell technologies. Ca 3 NCl 3 has unique electrical and optical properties and shows great potential as an absorber for solar cells, offering a promising solution for enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. To determine the best device layout, this study uses a device combination of Ag/FTO/ETL/Ca 3 NCl 3 /HTL/Ni, including seven HTLs and one ETL with the SCAPS-1D simulator. To improve device configuration, consider variables including thickness, temperature, doping density, defect density, and series and shunt resistance. After optimizing device parameters, the Ag/FTO/SnS 2 /Ca 3 NCl 3 /MoO 3 /Ni device outperformed the other 6-HTLs (Cu 2 O, CuI, CuSCN, NiO, CuSbS 2 , and P3HT) based devices with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 28.13 %, an open circuit current (V OC) of 1.36 V, a short circuit current density (J SC) of 22.892 mA/cm2, and a fill factor (FF) of 90.36 %. This proposed solar cell has exceptional performance compared to conventional thin-film solar cells, highlighting Ca 3 NCl 3 as an appealing solution for solar energy systems while reducing toxicity issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Large-area and homogeneous MoS 2 films were prepared on sapphire using two-step process. It was experimentally verified that most of the MoO 3 reacts with sulfur in situ on the substrate surface during sulfidation, and a small portion of the MoO 3 sublimated before being sulfurized. • The phase transition occurs as the vulcanization temperature increases, from MoO 3 to S- doped MoO 3 at 500 ℃, mixture of MoO 3 and MoS 2 at 600 ℃, O- doped MoS 2 at 700 ℃, ideal stoichiometric ratio of MoS 2 at 800 ℃, and S- deficient MoS 2 at 900 ℃, respectively. And the work function of the samples is significantly modulated from 4.68 eV to 3.90 eV, and the band gap energy decreases from 3.08 eV to 1.00 eV gradually, which are fairly consistent with the theoretical predictions. • The contacts between Ti and S- doped MoO 3 , or the mixture of MoO 3 and MoS 2 , are ohmic- like contacts. While the contacts between Ti and O- doped MoS 2 , ideal stoichiometric ratio of MoS 2 , or S- deficient MoS 2 are Schottky contacts. The transformation of MoO 3 into MoS 2 is investigated by sulfurizing MoO 3 on sapphire at various temperatures. The amorphous MoO 3 are crystallized at 500 ℃ and then sulfurized from 500 ℃ to 900 ℃. The phase transition occurs as the temperature increases, from MoO 3 to S- doped MoO 3 at 500 ℃, mixture of MoO 3 and MoS 2 at 600 ℃, O- doped MoS 2 at 700 ℃, ideal stoichiometric ratio of MoS 2 at 800 ℃, and S- deficient MoS 2 at 900 ℃, respectively. Correspondingly, the work function is significantly modulated from 4.68 eV for MoO 3 to 3.90 eV for MoS 2 , and the band gap energy decreases from 3.08 eV to 1.00 eV gradually, which are fairly consistent with the theoretical predictions. The contacts between titanium and S- doped MoO 3 , or the mixture of MoO 3 and MoS 2 , are ohmic- like contacts with specific contact resistivities of 2.68 × 10-3 Ω•cm2 and 3.14 × 10-3 Ω•cm2. While the contacts between Ti and O- doped MoS 2 , ideal stoichiometric ratio of MoS 2 , or S- deficient MoS 2 are Schottky contacts with barrier heights of 0.22 eV, 0.43 eV and 0.45 eV, respectively. Those results demonstrate that temperature plays pivotal role in determining the phase of sulfurized MoO 3 and their properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • α-MoO 3 , not h-MoO 3 , was active for the hydrazine-assisted transfer hydrogenation. • an active (NH 4) 0.23 H 0.08 MoO 3 phase containing Mo5+ species was formed during induction period. • Mo5+ species was a possible active site for hydrazine decomposition. • Hammett plot revealed the involvement of Hδ- in the formation of intermediate. MoO 3 with orthorhombic structure (α-MoO 3) was evaluated for its catalytic performance in the hydrazine-assisted transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline at near room temperature. The conversion of nitrobenzene, ca. 88.6 % was obtained after 4 h reaction with > 99 % of selectivity to aniline. The activation energy from the Arrhenius plot was ca. 120.6 kJ/mol. In this system, hydrazine (N 2 H 4) did not only act as a hydrogen donor but also as a reducing agent to generate an active catalytic phase as supported by the existence of an induction period at the early stages of the reaction. XRD and XPS characterisations of the hydrazine–treated catalyst revealed the phase transformation from α-MoO 3 to (NH 4) 0.23 H 0.08 MoO 3 containing Mo5+ species, a possible adsorption site for hydrazine decomposition to produce active hydrogen species for the transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. Based on the Hammett plot, an anionic intermediate was indicated to be involved in the rate-determining step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As shown in the diagram, we developed Co(OH) 2 -MoO 3 /NF with petal-like layered nanosheet structure as a novel and efficient OER catalyst. Notably, Co(OH) 2 -MoO 3 /NF nanosheets not only prevent the agglomeration of nanostructured material, but also facilitate the complete penetration and diffusion of electrolyte. In addition, Co(OH) 2 -MoO 3 /NF exhibits excellent electrocatalytic OER performance. [Display omitted] • Petal-like layered nanosheet structure. • Excellent electrocatalytic OER performance. • The strong electronic interaction between Co(OH) 2 and MoO 3. The development of high-performance and cost-effective electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OER) is key to renewable energy conversion and storage technologies. In this paper, a hierarchical Co(OH) 2 -MoO 3 nanosheets with petal-like architecture was prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method using ZIF-67/NF as a precursor, and it was used as a direct electrocatalyst for OER. Notably, this petal-like Co(OH) 2 -MoO 3 /NF layered nanosheets not only prevent the agglomeration of nanostructured material, but also facilitate the complete penetration and diffusion of electrolyte. In addition, due to the strong electronic interaction between Co(OH) 2 and MoO 3 in the Co(OH) 2 -MoO 3 /NF system, Co(OH) 2 -MoO 3 /NF exhibits excellent electrocatalytic OER performance. It has a low overpotential of 273 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and excellent stability. This study provides a simple and effective strategy for the rational design and structural evolution of MOF-derived materials to achieve inexpensive and effective electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, novel mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) composed of MoO 3 /Poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) with distinctive piezo-photocatalytic properties were prepared. The membranes were made from dopes containing a high ratio of MoO 3 to P(VDF-TrFE) (2:1 wt%/wt%) through a modified solvent evaporation method. The addition of MoO 3 particles significantly impacted the crystallization and self-polarization of the P(VDF-TrFE) matrix, leading to a substantial increase in total crystallinity from 46.4% to 88.9% and a transformation from α to β phase. The flow-induced piezoelectric potential created an internal electric field, enhancing the spatial separation of photogenerated carriers through the piezoelectric effect. Controlled water flow further promoted the spatial separation of carriers. The developed MMMs demonstrated a high Rhodamine B degradation rate, reaching 83.1% within 45 minutes and over 99% within 90 minutes under natural light conditions. The MoO 3 /P(VDF-TrFE) MMMs exhibit promising piezo-photocatalytic attributes and hold potential for diverse applications due to their unique combination of piezoelectric and photocatalytic properties. [Display omitted] • The mixed matrix membranes(MMMs) with mass ratio of MoO 3 to P(VDF-TrFE) 2:1 were prepared by solvent evaporation method. • The addition of MoO 3 particles promoted the crystallization of piezoelectric phase and enhanced the piezoelectricity of MMMs. • Under the mechanical drive of water flow, the piezoelectric effect promotes the separation of MoO 3 photogenerated carrier. • MoO 3 /P(VDF-TrFE) MMMs showed good degradation of Rhodamine B under xenon lamp and natural light conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the 2D SnS/g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets have been successfully prepared by a facile ultrasonic and microwave heating approach, which formed intimate interfacial contact and suitable energy band structure. The optimized sample displayed enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water assisted with Pt co-catalyst, which is much higher than that of pure g-C 3 N 4. After loaded with MoO 3 particles, the stability of photocatalysts displayed significate improvement due to the formed Z-scheme heterojunction. With the characterization, the enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance might be ascribed to the improved light-harvesting capability of the composite, lowered charge-transfer resistance, increased electrical conductivity and the co-catalyst effect of SnS. This study provides insights about SnS assisted HER photocatalysts and a new strategy to improve the stability of metal sulfides photocatalysts. The obtained photocatalyst showed strong light-harvest ability and high carriers separation efficiency by the formation of heterojunction between g-C 3 N 4 and SnS, and improved stability due to the introduction of MoO 3 to form a Z-scheme junction. [Display omitted] • Narrow-bandgap-SnS was introduced to obtained 2D composite with enhanced photocatalytic performance. • Z-scheme heterojunction formed between MoO 3 and SnS was applied to improve stability. • The origin for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was deeply discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) is a 2D layered structured material with a Mo:S of 1:2 and is a great attention seeker for hydrogen production through water-splitting. In the present work, we prepared nanostructured MoS x with different sulfur molar concentrations (x = 2, 1, 0.5) through a one-step hydrothermal method. The decrease in sulfur concentration resulted in a new phase that is MoO 3 with a Mo:S of 1:0.5. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of all the samples were studied through X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, respectively. Moreover, the electrochemical behavior was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and Tafel slope. Optimum properties were observed for Mo:S (1:1) with an onset potential of 96 mV, an overpotential of 130 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) coupled with a specific capacitance of 889 F/g and low charge transfer resistance of 43 Ω. Further, it was noted that the electrocatalytic activity of MoS 1 was better than that of the composite and bare MoO 3. It is proposed that the excellent electrochemical activity arises from sulfur vacancies which provide active sites for HER and a free path for ions to flow through the material. • MoS x (x = 2, 1, 0.5) nanostructures are prepared through a hydrothermal method. • A decrease in sulfur concentration resulted in a new phase i.e. MoO 3 for MoS 0.5. • Optimum properties are achieved for MoS 1 with the lowest overpotential and R ct. • Catalyst MoS 1 has the best HER activity due to the presence of sulfur vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel visible-light active MoO 3 /N–MoS 2 heterostructure photocatalyst was fabricated via hydrothermal process. The structure, morphology and optical characteristics were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. The results indicated that loading pf MoO 3 and nitrogen doping played main influence role in advancing the morphology and optical characteristics. Upon visible photo-illumination, the MoO 3 /N–MoS 2 sample displayed superior photocatalytic H 2 -production activity (118 μ mol h−1g−1), which was about four-time higher than that of pure MoS 2 (30 μ mol h−1g−1). The enhancement in photocatalytic performance of MoO 3 /N–MoS 2 photocatalyst can be ascribed to the development of direct Z-scheme heterostructure, which promoted the photo-excited electrons/holes transfer and separation. The recycling experiment verified that the MoO 3 /N–MoS 2 photocatalyst had superior cyclic activity and stability, implying promising applications in energy field. • Highly crystalline direct Z-scheme MoO 3 /N–MoS 2 photocatalyst was prepared by hydrothermal method. • MoO 3 /N–MoS 2 sample displayed superior photocatalytic H 2 -production activity (118 μ mol h−1g−1). • The optimal composite showed excellent hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. • The optimum sample showed excellent stability even after 4th cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, colorimetric sensors capable of detecting explosive and toxic molecules have attracted much attention for applications in health and environmental monitoring. Here, we demonstrate the detection of hydrogen gas using gasochromic fabrics and evaluate their performance with a commercial RGB color sensor module. For this purpose, first a thin Pd film was sputter deposited onto the polyester fabric and then amorphous MoO 3 films (several microns) were deposited by RF reactive magnetrons in various O 2 /Ar ratios (from 2.5 to 12.5 O 2). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) identified the morphological changes of the surface at each coating step and showed that the fibrous structure of the fabrics was preserved after coating of the films, which is suitable for better gas adsorption. Exposure to hydrogen caused the obtained MoO 3 /Pd/polyester samples to turn blue-gray at room temperature and the UV–Vis spectra showed an increase in optical absorption. Their sensitivity was evaluated in the presence of different H 2 concentrations from 250 to 10,000 ppm by recording the time variation of color difference (RGB Euclidean distance). A significant correlation was found between absorption spectrum and RGB analysis with respect to oxygen content. The color variation showed a linear behavior with respect to hydrogen concentration for all samples. Response and recovery times, reversibility and reproducibility in the presence of hydrogen gas were also evaluated using the RGB readout data. Overall, the RGB module optimally depicts the sensing characteristics of the gasochromic fabrics in terms of reversibility, sensitivity and reproducibility, which may contribute to their commercial development. [Display omitted] • Sputter deposited MoO 3 /Pd on polyester were explored for gasochromic hydrogen sensing. • RGB color sensor module was used for acquiring color changes. • RGB data showed a linear behavior with respect to hydrogen concentration (250–10,000 ppm). • Significant correlation was found between RGB readout and absorption spectra. • Coloration time, reversibility and reproducibility were also evaluated by RGB data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnO 2 -MoO 3 hybrid nanoparticles are anchored in a few-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) network to synthesize SnO 2 -MoO 3 -CNT nanocomposite by hydrothermal and ball grinding methods. The CNTs can alleviate the volume expansion of SnO 2 , improve conductivity and shorten the transmission paths of the electrons and Li+. The SnO 2 -MoO 3 -CNT composite has a high initial coulombic efficiency of 80.9% and shows a large invertible capacity of 1372.2 mAhg−1 after 280 cycles at 0.2 Ag-1 and the coulomb efficiency holds more than 98.0% after the second cycle, high-rate property of 743.6 mAhg−1 at 5.0 Ag-1 and long-term cycling capacity of 886.3 mAhg−1 at 1.0 Ag-1 after 950 cycles. Because of its outstanding properties, ternary SnO 2 -MoO 3 -CNT nanocomposite is a confident anode material for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual detection of hydrogen is important for hydrogen-powered vehicles and hydrogen fuel stations. However, there are few studies on such the sensing approach, particularly solving challenges about the endurance or reusability of the sensors. Here, our development of superior reversible gasochromic hydrogen sensors based on a novel combination of a multi-layered Pt–Ni catalyst and a mixed-phase MoO 3 active layer is introduced. The mixed α and β phases in the MoO 3 layer can provide more high-energy sites for gasochromic reactions. The Pt–Ni catalyst, where Ni serves as a modifier of surface atoms' diffusivity, successfully converts the mostly irreversible gasochromic sensing mode of MoO 3 to the reversible gasochromic mode. Our hydrogen sensor shows coloration from grey to navy blue within 30 s, and its recovery occurs within 50 s. Furthermore, it can detect H 2 gas (5–1000 ppm) in both optical and electrical modes. Notably, our sensor is all constructed through dry processes, raising its potential for large-scale manufacture and integration. [Display omitted] • Mixed α and β phases of MoO 3 serving a crucial basis for the reversible gasochromism. • Bimodal sensing capabilities of our Pt–Ni/MoO 3 reversible chemochromic material. • Multi-layered Pt–Ni catalyst, where Ni acts as a modifier of surface atoms' diffusivity. • Controlled multi-layering of Pt and Ni boosting the hydrogen detection of MoO 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High efficiency Sb 2 Se 3 solar cell based on EB-CdS film can be obtained in a low preparation and optimization temperature. • The structural, crystalline, optical, and electrical properties of the EB-CdS film at different substrate temperatures were explored. • 6.71% efficiency has been obtained in the new structure of FTO/EB-CdS/Sb 2 Se 3 /MoO 3 /Au. In our previous work, the detailed crystal structure, optical and electrical properties of evaporated CdS (hexagonal CdS) and chemical bath deposition CdS (cubic CdS) were discussed. The hexagonal CdS film is more suitable as the buffer layer for Sb 2 Se 3 film solar cells compared with its cubic counterpart. However, in our experiments, the influence of high annealing temperature on hexagonal CdS is difficult to control. Moreover, hexagonal CdS is unsuitable for large-area industrial production of Sb 2 Se 3 solar cells. In this study, an electron beam evaporation-prepared CdS buffer layer (hexagonal CdS) with high quality, uniformity and low-temperature treatment was introduced in Sb 2 Se 3 thin film solar cells. The influence of different substrate temperatures during electron beam evaporation on the crystal structure, surface morphologies, and optical properties of CdS and Sb 2 Se 3 films was investigated. The device performance improvement from 3.52% to 5.89% was obtained after the surface roughness of the CdS film and the heterojunction interface were optimised. Lastly, the efficiency of the Sb 2 Se 3 solar cells was obtained to be 6.71% based on the structure of FTO/EB-CdS/Sb 2 Se 3 /MoO 3 /Au. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The HTFSI-MTA-TMS electrolyte exhibited a wide electrochemical window over 4 V vs. Ag/Ag+. • The (Ni 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2) x O y -Nb was for the first time verified to show a reversible proton storage property. • The (Ni 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2)xOy-Nb//MoO 3 button-type proton full battery exhibited an excellent long-term cycling stability. Protons are seen as promising charge carriers in next-generation energy storage systems due to their extremely small ion radius, high natural abundance, and environment friendliness. However, the limited electrochemical window of aqueous electrolytes severely restricts the energy density of proton batteries and the option of electrode material. Herein, an organic acid-alkali coordinately regulated liquid electrolyte comprising of organic acid bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (HTFSI), organic alkali 1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole (MTA) and organic solvent tetramethylene sulfone (TMS), noted as HTFSI-MTA-TMS, was investigated, and exhibited a stable electrochemical window over 4 V and good compatibility with inorganic electrodes. Benefiting from this, the oxide cathode (Ni 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2) x O y -Nb was for the first time described to show a reversible proton storage ability, high reduction potential (0.72 V vs Ag/Ag+) and good cycling stability in this electrolyte. Consequently, the assembled (Ni 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2) x O y -Nb//MoO 3 button-type proton full battery exhibited a stable operating voltage window over 1.8 V, a clear discharge platform at 1.3 V, an initial discharge specific capacity of 120 mAh/g at 1 A/g, and a good long-term cycling stability (70 % capacity retention after 10,000 cycles). These findings demonstrate that the HTFSI-MTA-TMS electrolyte can endow proton batteries with distinctive high-voltage characteristics and favorable electrochemical stability, which will promote the research and development of high-voltage proton batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical detection of dopamine is crucial in the early stages of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. In this paper, we have developed modified electrodes based on molybdenum oxide (MoO 3) grown on graphite sheet (GS), which was investigated for its ability to detect dopamine sensitively and selectively. The MoO 3 /GS electrodes were prepared by thermal evaporation of MoO 3 on GS sheets followed by annealing at different temperatures (RT and annealing temperatures of 100 °C, 200 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C). The electrodes were analysed using XRD, Raman, FESEM and HRTEM. Compared to other electrodes, the modified MoO 3 /GS electrode annealed at 500 °C showed more significant charge transfer and increased selectivity and sensitivity in the electrochemical detection of dopamine. The findings showed a significant sensitivity of 85.71 μA. μM−1·cm−2 for the linear range of 1–10 nM and the lowest detection limit of 2.71 nM were achieved from the dopamine sensing. The developed electrode successfully detected dopamine in human blood serum and urine samples with respectable recovery rates. • Development of modified MoO 3 /GS electrodes with different annealing temperatures. • The properties of the electrodes are validated using physio-chemical characterizations. • Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to investigate the electrodes. • Limit of detection of 2.71 nM were achieved from the dopamine sensing. • Dopamine in human blood serum and urine samples are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of waste cooking oil (WCO) for producing green diesel has attracted considerable attention as an alternative to fossil fuels. Decarboxylation is a promising pathway to convert WCO into green diesel. In this study, decarboxylation of oleic acid (OA) (model compound of WCO) was studied using ScCO 2 in a batch reactor at 325 – 400 °C, 8.27 – 9.65 MPa and 1 – 3 h. Up to 98% decarboxylation and 49% liquid fuel yield were obtained using 7.5 wt% MoO 3 /γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst at the optimum conditions of feed to catalyst ratio of 10:3 (5 g-OA/1.5 g-cat), 375 °C temperature and 3 h of reaction time without adding any external H 2. Analysis of liquid products identified the extent of decarboxylation and the lengths of the hydrocarbon chains of the liquid products. The liquid product formed can easily be blended with conventional diesel or directly used as a green fuel to lower our dependency on fossil fuels. [Display omitted] • Green diesel production from oleic acid using ScCO 2 was studied. • The process consists of thermal cracking and subsequent decarboxylation. • 7.5 wt% MoO 3 / γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst was found to be an efficient decarboxylation catalyst in ScCO 2. • Catalyst was regenerated by simple calcination under air. • The liquid hydrocarbon product obtained in this process is comparable to commercial diesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a Z-scheme heterojunction is constructed by the synthesis of MoO 3 /Ni-MOF (MNM(x),x = 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) composite materials to effectively improve its photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency. Among them, MNM(30) composite materials have the best performance, with a hydrogen production of 7.90 mmol within 1 h, which has a significant improve for MoO 3. The X-Ray Diffraction(XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), X-Rayr Photoelectron Spectroscopy(XPS), Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) of MoO 3 , Ni-MOF, and MNM(x) were analyzed to determine composition and morphology. The photoresponse and electron mobility of the them were analyzed though UV-Visible Spectrophotometer(UV–vis), Photoluminescence(PL) and Photoelectrochemical tests. The construction of Z-scheme heterojunctions has achieved the separation of photo-generated electrons and holes, leading to a significant improvement in photocatalytic efficiency. The introduction of Ni-MOF compensates for the problem of excessive bandgap in MoO 3 , which improves the absorption efficiency of visible light and stability of photocatalytic materials. This study provides a new pathway for photocatalytic hydrogen production in Mo-based materials by constructing heterojunctions and introducing MOF materials. [Display omitted] • The Z-scheme heterojunction improve the utilization efficiency of charge and retain great redox capacity. • NMN(x) have excellent activity for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. • The framework provided by Ni-MOF allowed MNM(x) to expose more active sites. • The composite photocatalysts owned excellent chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoO 3 is passionately examined as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), because of its exclusive interest due to high theoretical capacity (1117 mAhg−1). This article reports the synthesis of MoO 3 nanoparticles by a simple solution combustion method using tamarind seed powder as a novel fuel where it produces in situ excess carbon by which it can eliminate the addition of acetylene black during the preparation of electrodes for LIB as a conducting material. The prepared MoO 3 nanoparticles were characterized by XRD for structural analysis, vibrational bonding's through FTIR, CHN elemental analysis, BET for pore size distribution and specific surface area, morphology by SEM and TEM. Presence of carbon content in MoO 3 nanoparticles show an excellent electrochemical performance by showing initial discharge capacity of 1171 mAhg−1 and stabilized to 162 mAhg−1 after 200 cycles and Columbic efficiency close to 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MoO 3 thin films were deposited by rf reactive magnetron sputtering. • α− and β−MoO 3 phases were induced by thermal treatments at 500 °C. • The MoO 3 thin films exhibited a high ability to adsorb MB on their surface. • The photocatalytic activity of MoO 3 thin films improved the MB removal. • The MB removal was highly dependent on the surface chemistry and roughness. The role of the sputtering power, film thickness, and sputtering working pressure on the adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity of MoO 3 thin films was studied. The MoO 3 thin films were deposited at room temperature by radio frequency reactive magnetron sputtering and subsequently post-annealed in air at 500 °C. X-ray diffractograms revealed the presence of the α- and β-MoO 3 crystalline phases. The thin film adsorption was assessed by the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions under dark conditions. In addition, the photocatalytic activity for the most adsorbent films was evaluated by the degradation of MB aqueous solutions under UV-irradiation. Raman spectroscopy measurements showed a strong MB adsorption on the film surface. Photoacoustic spectroscopy experiments confirmed the adsorption of MB on the catalyst surface; specifically, a strong hypsochromic shift of the absorption bands indicated that MB forms aggregates on the MoO 3 surface. The maximum adsorption and photocatalytic performances were observed for the samples deposited at 60 W and 12.0 mTorr, with a thickness of 400 nm. The results are explained in terms of the stoichiometry, as well as the structural, optical, and morphological properties of the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, five different glasses encoded Pb25, Pb30, Pb35, Pb40 and Pb45 based on xPbO- (50-x) MoO 3 –50V 2 O 5 (25 ≤ x ≤ 45 mol %) glass system were fabricated. MCNPX code, XCOM and XMuDat have been utilized to compute the mass attenuation coefficient (μ m) values of the xPbO-(50-x)MoO3–50V 2 O 5 glass system at 0.015–15 MeV photon energies. X-ray diffraction (XRD), was characterized for fabricated glasses. Moreover, different shielding parameters such as Half Value Layer, Tenth Value Layer, relaxation length, effective atomic numbers and effective electron densities, basic gamma-ray attenuation properties such as Exposure Buildup Factors (EBF) and Energy Absorption Buildup Factors (EABF) at different penetration depths, Effective Removal Cross Section against fast neutrons have been calculated. In addition to nuclear radiation shielding parameters, numerous physical and mechanical parameters were determined. The experimental elastic modulus results were compared using the theoretical models Makishima-Mackenzie and Rocherulle model. The values of these moduli have been compared to their experimental values. The results observed that the composition has the highest value of PbO (45 mol. %) showed excellent nuclear radiation shielding and elastic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its distinctive properties and promising applications, one-dimensional Mo 2 C has received increasing attention in recent years. In this paper, the strategy of two-step topochemical synthesizing one-dimensional Mo 2 C nanobelts with one-dimensional MoO 3 nanobelts as precusor was first proposed. The phase composition, morphology, structure, chemical states, specific surface area and pore size distribution of the synthesized Mo 2 C were characterized. Firstly, one-dimensional MoO 3 nanobelts were synthesized via hydrothermal route. Secondly, Mo 2 N nanobelts were synthesized by the reduction and nitriding reaction of MoO 3 nanobelts via NH 3. Finally, one-dimensional Mo 2 C nanobelts with a width of 100–500 nm and a length of several tens of micrometers were successfully prepared after carbonization of one-dimensional Mo 2 N nanobelts under a 5%CH 4 /H 2 gas mixture flow at 700 °C for 2 h. Additionally, the prepared one-dimensional Mo 2 C nanobelts has abundant mesopores on its surface and has a specific surface area of 48.7 m2/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel supports were developed for biomass conversion. A series of Ca–SiO 2 materials were synthesized with a bio-inspired methodology. We used CaCO 3 and CaSO 4 for the modification of high surface area SiO 2 to introduce basic and acid sites into the support. These two calcium sources were impregnated into the SiO 2 in the presence of l -Alanine or l -Glycine. Both amino acids are able to bind calcium and those were used as a bio-inspiration procedure for changing the surface properties of SiO 2. A series of MoO 3 catalysts were prepared on the different supports and those were tested in the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of palmitic acid (PA). We found the formation of crystalline phases at the support surface due to the Ca addition. CaCO 3 crystalline structure disappeared after the preparation of the catalysts because a new compound is formed, CaMoO 4 , while CaSO 4 is not able to form any new compound with MoO 3. Surface basicity and acidity were characterized by FT-IR using CO 2 or pyridine adsorbed on the materials, respectively. We found that acidity plays a major role in the HDO of PA. Highly active MoO 3 -based catalysts were obtained by using SiO 2 –CaSO 4 or SiO 2 –CaCO 3 supports combined with amino acids. Image 1 • Bio-inspired supports were successfully synthesized. • Interactions between Ca2+ and l -Alanine or l -Glycine were employed for functionalization of SiO 2. • MoO 3 -based catalysts were tested in hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of palmitic acid. • Highly active catalysts were obtained because a proper combination of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple one-step sol-gel method was used to prepare mesoporous molybdenum oxide using a F127 triblock copolymer structure-directing agent for the first time. MoO 3 @MWCNT nanocomposites with 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% weight MWCNT were prepared using the impregnation method. MoO 3 and MoO 3 @MWCNT nanocomposites were analyzed to identify their physical and chemical properties. The TEM results showed that MoO 3 has a nanoparticle shape, and MoO 3 nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface of MWCNTs. The bandgap of the MoO 3 sample can be adapted by adjusting the weight percent of MWCNTs. Additionally, the band gap of MoO 3 was reduced by the addition of MWCNTs and improved their photocatalytic reduction of chromium (VI) under visible light. Finally, MoO 3 @MWCNT nanocomposites were used to reduce chromium (VI) beyond the loss of photocatalytic performance, which means they have high photocatalytic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors (SCs) have been considered as inspiring energy storage devices due to the long cycle lifetime and high power densities. However, their energy density is limited due to the low capacitance of cathode materials and inferior cycling stability at practically useable potential windows >1.2 V. In this paper, we demonstrate the synthesis of a novel ternary Fe 3 O 4 -rGO-MoO 3 nano-composite (FGM) with nanoparticles-like morphology (NPs) by utilizing the fast and facile microwave hydrothermal process. The optimized composition of FGM nanocomposite is characterized by the XPS, EDS, Raman, SEM, TEM and HRTEM techniques. The FGM-NPs supported on the carbon cloth (FGM@CC) electrode is used to investigate the electrochemical charge storage properties in basic potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte. The charge-storage properties of the FGM@CC electrode were studied by the CV, GCD and EIS techniques. The obtained results of FGM@CC electrode in aqueous electrolyte showed excellent electrochemical performance as compared with single metal oxides: maximum specific capacitance of 1666.50 F g−1 (FGM@CC), 1075.26 F g−1 (Fe 3 O 4 NPs) and 952.38 F g−1 (MoO 3 NPs) at a current density of 2.5 A g−1. The capacitance retention was 95.01% (FGM@CC), 94.1% (Fe 3 O 4 NPs) and 92.5% (MoO 3 NPs) after 5000 cycles. Further, the charge storage mechanism is analyzed in the light of power's law and systematical investigated the capacitive and diffusion controlled based stored charge in FGM@CC electrode. Thus FGM nano-composite showed best performance as the cathode material for the next generation flexible supercapacitors. The FGM@CC electrode showed excellent electrochemical performance with as high as C sp of 1666.50 F g−1 at 2.5 A g−1. The FGM@CC electrode possesses 55% of stored energy from surface capacitive storage process and 45% from diffusion controlled process. Image 1 • A ternary Fe3O4-rGO-MoO3 nano-composite is synthesized through a facile microwave strategy. • FGM supported on carbon cloth electrode (FGM@CC) exhibits exceptional high charge storage performance. • FGM@CC electrode reached at high potential window of 1.2 V in aqueous electrolyte. • FGM@CC electrode shows excellent cycling stability >95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, porous SiC-mullite ceramics (PSMCs) with high flexural strength and gas permeability were prepared with various mass fractions of MoO 3 and Al 2 O 3. Higher performance was achieved at low sintering temperatures and the problem of large amounts of cristobalite phase in the PSMCs was solved. The results show that 4 wt% MoO 3 is optimal for the growth of mullite rods at a sintering temperature of 850 °C. Porosity was effectively controlled by the formation of interlocking structure and mechanical strength was not obviously affected. Therefore, the optimal content of Al 2 O 3 was 25 wt% in samples prepared at 850–1200 °C, as the flexural strength was generally higher than that in samples with other Al 2 O 3 contents. The highest flexural strength of 66.02 MPa was achieved at an open porosity of 45.4%, gas permeability of 2.32 × 10−13 m2, and permeance of 4.62 × 10−5 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 in samples sintered at 1000 °C. This work is of significance for the industrial preparation of PSMCs from photovoltaic silicon waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]