Tetraammonium Hexahydrogenhexamolybdozincate(II) Hexahydrate

Photoluminescence Properties of Two Closely Related Isostructural Series Based on Anderson-Evans Cluster Coordinated With Lanthanides [Ln(H2O)7{X(OH)6Mo6O18}]•yH2O, X = Al, Cr

The paper describes synthesis and structural characterization of the whole series of two closely related lanthanide coordinated chromium or aluminum hexamolybdates (Anderson-Evans cluster) including twelve new members hitherto unreported: [Ln(H₂O)₇{X(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈}]·4H₂O and [Ln(H₂O)₇{X(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈}Ln(H₂O)₇]{X(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈}·16H₂O where X = Al or Cr and Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y. Crystal structures of all the solids were established by powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The two series are dictated by a different aggregation of the same set of molecular species: Lighter lanthanides favor coordination interaction between lanthanide ions and molybdate cluster forming 1D chains (Series I) while the heavier lanthanides result in the stacking of a cation, a pair of lanthanide hydrates coordinating to the cluster, and an anion, the discrete cluster is further stabilized through a large number of water molecules (Series II). Crystallization with Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions results in a concomitant mixture of Series I and II. Photoluminescence of single crystals of all the chromium molybdates was dominated by a ruby-like emission including those which contain optically active ions Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, and Tm. In contrast, aluminum analogs showed photoluminescence corresponding to characteristic lanthanide emissions. Our results strongly suggest a possible energy transfer from f levels of lanthanide ions to d levels of chromium (III) causing the quenching of lanthanide emission when coordinated with chromium molybdates. Intensity measurements showed that the emission from chromium molybdates are almost two orders of magnitude lower than naturally occurring ruby with broader line widths at room temperature.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Molybdenum Oxide Based Materials: Strategy and Structural Chemistry

The preparative flexibility of hydrothermal syntheses needs to be systemised for exploring complex structure-synthesis relationships and morphology control options in materials chemistry. This is demonstrated for the targeted hydrothermal preparation of molybdenum oxide materials: firstly, in situ studies were employed for the efficient production of MoO(3) nanofibres. Furthermore, ionic substances as structure-directing tools brought forward a new class of fluorinated polyoxomolybdates.