Intercalating a potassium–aqua complex cation into an α-MoO3 layer without reducing molybdenum: a potential storage system

Abstract

We have demonstrated a green aqueous synthesis of rod-shaped MoO₃ material, [Mo^VI₃O₉{K(H₂O)₄}(CH₃COO)]·H₂O (2) intercalating potassium–aqua-complex acetate into its lamellar space, simply by ion-exchange of Co(II)–aqua-complex in compound [Mo^VI₄O₁₂(CH₃COO)₂{Co^II(H₂O)₆}]·2H₂O (1) by {K(H₂O)₄}⁺ in an aqueous solution of 1 and KCl. Compound 2 acts as a potential storage system of alkali metal ions.