Synthesis and characterization of ferric molybdate nanoparticles in reverse micelles nanoreactors

Ferric molybdate nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via microemulsion method. Ferric chloride and ammonium heptamolybdate were used as starting materials. A microemulsion system comprised from cationic surfactant (CTAB), isooctane as oil phase, n-butanol as co-surfactant and aqueous solution of ferric chloride was employed. Direct addition of aqueous solution of ammonium heptamolybdate to the microemulsion solution produced amorphous ferric molybdate nanoparticles. Crystallization of the product was performed by calcinations at 450 °C. Physicochemical characterization of the prepared nanomaterial was achieved by FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and thermogravimetric analyses. The product was found to be consisted of relatively monodispersed nanoparticles with 80–90 nm in size.