Solid-Phase “Self-Hydrolysis” of [Zn(NH3)4MoO4@2H2O] Involving Enclathrated Water—An Easy Route to a Layered Basic Ammonium Zinc Molybdate Coordination Polymer

An aerial humidity-induced solid-phase hydrolytic transformation of the [Zn(NH3)4]MoO4@2H2O (compound 1@2H2O) with the formation of [(NH4)xH(1−x)Zn(OH)(MoO4)]n (x = 0.92–0.94) coordination polymer (formally NH4Zn(OH)MoO4, compound 2) is described. Based on the isostructural relationship, the powder XRD indicates that the crystal lattice of compound 1@2H2O contains a hydrogen-bonded network of tetraamminezinc (2+) and molybdate (2−) ions, and there are cavities (O4N4(μ-H12) cube) occupied by the two water molecules, which stabilize the crystal structure. Several observations indicate that the water molecules have no fixed positions in the lattice voids; instead, the cavity provides a neighborhood similar to those in clathrates. The @ symbol in the notation is intended to emphasize that the H2O in this compound is enclathrated rather than being water of crystallization. Yet, signs of temperature-dependent dynamic interactions with the wall of the cages can be detected, and 1@2H2O easily releases its water content even on standing and yields compound 2. Surprisingly, hydrolysis products of 1 were observed even in the absence of aerial humidity, which suggests a unique solid-phase quasi-intramolecular hydrolysis. A mechanism involving successive substitution of the ammonia ligands by water molecules and ammonia release is proposed. An ESR study of the Cu-doped compound 2 (2#dotCu) showed that this complex consists of two different Cu2+(Zn2+) environments in the polymeric structure. Thermal decomposition of compounds 1 and 2 results in ZnMoO4 with similar specific surface area and morphology. The ZnMoO4 samples prepared from compounds 1 and 2 and compound 2 in itself are active photocatalysts in the degradation of Congo Red dye. IR, Raman, and UV studies on compounds 1@2H2O and 2 are discussed in detail.

In situ QXAS study of sulfidation/oxidative regeneration reactions of zinc molybdate (ZnMoO4) and ZnO–MoO3 materials

QXAS combined to multivariate data analysis enabled to follow sulfidation and oxidative regeneration kinetics of Zn and Mo based materials, with a description of the evolution of the several intermediate phases.