MnMoO4 microcrystals were synthesized by hydrothermal methods, and
their structural, morphological, and vibrational properties were investigated.
Conventional reactors and microwave-heated hydrothermal vessels were
used to synthesize micrometer-sized MnMoO4 polymorphs at
different temperature and time conditions. MnMoO4·H2O crystals were obtained in both reactors at temperatures
below 200 °C, for times up to 24 h. These microcrystals belong
to the triclinic P1̅ space group, and their
26 characteristic Raman bands were identified. A monoclinic MnMoO4 polymorph belonging to the P2/c structure was synthesized at temperatures higher than 200 °C
only into conventional hydrothermal reactors. Polarized micro-Raman
analyses have evidenced and allowed the assignment of 18 phonon modes
predicted by group-theory calculations for this polymorph. Another
MnMoO4 polymorph, within the monoclinic C2/m space group, was obtained by two processing
routes: (i) heating the P2/c microcrystals
at 600 °C; or (ii) heating the MnMoO4·H2O phase at 250 °C. For this monoclinic phase, 33 Raman-active
bands were identified and assigned, in very good agreement with group-theoretical
calculations, which predict 36 modes for the C2/m polymorph. Well-faceted, highly crystalline microcrystals
were clearly observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopies,
in perfect agreement with X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic
analysis. Finally, the appearance of characteristic phonon modes related
to molybdenum in octahedral coordination suggests an incipient crystallization
of a new, unreported α-MnMoO4 polymorph, at least
in a short-range degree.
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