Synthesis and characterization of M3V2O8 (M = Ca, Sr and Ba) by a solid-state metathesis approach

A solid-state metathesis approach initiated by microwave energy has been successfully applied for the synthesis of orthovanadates, M3V2O8 (M = Ca, Sr, and Ba). The structural, vibrational, thermal, optical and chemical properties of synthesized powders are determined by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, magnetic property measurements and diffused reflectance spectra in the UV-VIS range. The direct bandgap of the synthesized materials was found to be 3 center dot 55 +/- 0 center dot 2 eV, 3 center dot 75 +/- 0 center dot 2 eV and 3 center dot 57 +/- 0 center dot 2 eV for Ca3V2O8, Sr3V2O8 and Ba3V2O8, respectively.