Synthesis and photochromic properties of formaldehyde-induced MoO3 powder

In the present research, the photochromic MoO3 powder with novel morphology has been synthesized via hydrothermal method, using formaldehyde as the capping agent. The formaldehyde-induced MoO3 powder is found to have hierarchically mesoporous spherical architecture and enhanced photochromic properties. The possible growth mechanism of the MoO3 hierarchical microstructure is discussed. And the effect of formaldehyde on the morphology and performances of MoO3 powder has been studied by techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (UV–vis).