Effect of support on the thermal decomposition of (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O in the inert gas atmosphere Original Research Article

Thermal decomposition of bulk or supported (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O (AHM) in the inert gas (Ar) atmosphere was studied. Several solids, including MgO, SiO2, ZrO2, C, Nb2O5 or Al2O3, were used as supports. The AHM decomposition was monitored by the mass-spectrometric analysis of the evolved gases and thermal analysis. Solid products were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron spin resonance (ESR). It was shown that the temperature of AHM decomposition as a function of the support used, changed in the sequence: MgO