A laser Raman spectroscopy study of molybdenum oxide supported on alumina and titania

Molybdenum oxide supported on alumina and titania prepared by three different methods (impregnation, calcination and hydrothermal treatment of mechanical mixtures), have been studied by laser Raman spectroscopy. Different oxomolybdenum species have been detected depending on the method of preparation and on the calcination conditions. Heptamolybdate and polymolybdate species were found in the impregnated and in the uncalcined, hydrothermally treated samples supported on alumina and titania, respectively, whereas polymolybdate species were formed on the surface of alumina when the mechanical mixtures and the hydrothermally treated samples were calcined in the presence of water vapour. However, two kinds of species, polymolybdate and mono-oxomolybdenum, were found in the case of the mechanical mixtures and the hydrothermally treated samples calcined in the presence of water vapour when supported on titania.