Temperature dependence of Raman and photoluminescence spectra of pure and high-quality MoO3 synthesized by hot wall horizontal thermal evaporation

In this work, a novel system for the hot wall evaporation of MoO3 in a horizontal furnace and at low vacuum atmosphere was settled. Pure MoO3 material was obtained without the presence of other phases and with a strong preferential orientation, as revealed by electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. Photoluminescence and Raman spectra were measured as a function of temperature. As a result, the first-order temperature coefficient of the fifteen measured vibrational modes is reported and compared with the scarce literature data available. The relation of these coefficients with the thermal expansion coefficient is discussed in the framework of the Grüneisen model. Moreover, for the first time, the temperature dependence of the different contributions of photoluminescence spectra for MoO3 is reported, and an anomalous increase in PL intensity of all transitions is observed in the range of 40–140 K, followed by a normal quenching at high temperatures. The Shibata model was used to interpret the origin of this anomalous effect. •A horizontal hot wall evaporation system for MoO3 at low vacuum was settled up.•First-order temperature coefficients of MoO3 vibrational modes were reported.•MoO3 photoluminescence spectra from 12 to 300 K was measured and studied.•Near band emission temperature dependence is quantified for MoO3.•Negative thermal quenching of the luminescence was observed and modeled.