Title: On the Synthesis of Molybdenum Nanoparticles under Reducing Conditions in Ionic Liquids
Abstract: We report on attempts to synthesize Mo nanoparticles under reducing conditions in ionic liquids (ILs). Ionic liquids were based on the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Emim and Bmim, resp.) cations and the dicyanamide N(CN) 2 , triflate (OTf), bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide-(NTf 2 ), tetrafluoroborate (BF 4 ), ethyl sulfate (ES), and methylsulfonate (MS) anions. (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 ∗4H 2 O and NaBH 4 were reacted in a set of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) at 180°C to evaluate the potential of the ILs for stabilization of metallic Mo nanoparticles. XRD and TEM reveal a strong influence of the IL anion on the particle sizes, shapes, and crystal structures. The influence of the IL cation and the reaction temperature is much less pronounced.