Single-Crystal MoO3 Micrometer and Millimeter Belts Prepared from Discarded Molybdenum Disilicide Heating Elements

Single-crystal MoO3 micrometer to millimeter even centimeter belts were prepared via a novel route of oxidizing a discarded molybdenum disilicide heating element at 1000 degrees C for 3 h. The morphology and structure features, and growth mechanism of the products were evidently investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that the powdery and fibrous products were typical alpha-MoO3 belt-like structures which size could develop from micrometer to several millimeter even centimeter in length and up to 0.5 mm in width. It should be formed preferentially along the [001] direction via layer by layer growth to form 1-D single MoO3 belts by vapor-solid mechanism. Thermal and luminescence properties of the products were revealed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis and photoluminescence spectra that the resultant alpha-MoO3 belts had good thermal stability and characteristics of luminescence with a central peak at 481 nm. The MoO3 belts are of good potential being applied to luminescent and high temperature devices.