On demand rapid patterning of colored amorphous molybdenum oxide using a focused laser beam

We report a facile method to achieve rapid conversion and patterning of a carbon nanotube (CNT)-molybdenum sulfide (MoSx) hybrid powder into a blue material via a focused laser beam. Characterization via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that amorphous molybdenum oxide MoOx is the dominating component on the surface of the blue material. On the other hand, amorphous molybdenum oxide, CNT and crystalline MoO3 coexist at the bottom. Comparison experiments reveal the indispensable role of both the focused laser beam and CNTs in the synthesis of amorphous MoOx. Similar to other amorphous molybdenum oxide materials, a photochromic phenomenon is observed in the amorphous molybdenum oxide reported herein. Upon irradiation with ultraviolet light, the blue color turns deeper. This experiment provides a straightforward strategy for the synthesis and micropatterning of amorphous materials by combining a focused laser beam and appropriate hybrid raw materials.