Green chemical incorporation of sulphate into polyoxoanions of molybdenum to nano level

Synthesis of sulphomolybdate (SMO) nanospheres was carried out by using sodium molybdate and a structure directing cationic surfactant, dodecyl pyridinium chloride (DPC) at room temperature by applying green chemistry principles. The composition and morphology of the nanospheres were established by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic (ICP–AES) techniques. Nanospheres in the diameter range of 10–100 nm, having the highest population within 50 nm were obtained. The effects of reaction parameters such as concentration of surfactant, temperature and pH of solution on the synthesis of nanospheres were investigated. The mechanism of agglomeration of nanoparticles are also discussed.