Evaluation of temperature-dependent microstructural and nanomechanical properties of phase pure V2O5

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology 2018-08, Vol.87 (2), p.347-361
• Main Authors: Mukherjee, Dipta, Das, Dyuman, Dey, Arjun, Mallik, Awadesh Kumar, Ghosh, Jiten, Sharma, Anand Kumar, Mukhopadhyay, Anoop Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bulk modulus; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; colloids; Composites; Crystal structure; Crystallinity; etc.; fibers; Glass; Heat; Heat treatment; Hydrolysis; Inorganic Chemistry; Light diffraction; Materials Science; Modulus of elasticity; Morphology; Nanohardness; Nanoindentation; Nanorods; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles; Photon correlation spectroscopy; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Synthesis; Temperature dependence; Vanadium pentoxide; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-018-4745-4

Phase pure, mesoporous, and crystalline V 2 O 5 is synthesized by acid hydrolysis technique and subsequently heat treatment is carried out at 450, 500, 550, and 600 °C in air. The as-synthesized and heat-treated powders are thoroughly studied by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and spectroscopic techniques. A unique morphological tuning of V 2 O 5 powders from as small as ~80 nm tiny nanorod to as large as a ~2.5 μm hexagonal grain as microstructural unit blocks is observed. A qualitative mechanism is suggested for particle growth. Further, the powders are pelletized and subsequently sintered in air at the same temperatures of 450, 500, 550, and 600 °C at which the powders were heat treated. Finally, nanomechanical properties of bulk pelletized V 2 O 5 such as nanohardness and Young’s modulus are also evaluated by nanoindentation technique at nine different loads e.g., 10, 30, 50, 70, 100, 300, 500, 700, and 1000 mN. Highlights Phase pure, mesoporous, and crystalline V 2 O 5 powder synthesized by acid hydrolysis. V 2 O 5 powders thoroughly studied as a function of various heat treatment temperatures. Morphology tuned from nanorod to hexagonal micron sized grain. Qualitative model suggested for particle growth mechanism. Load-dependent nanoindentation studied on various sintered V 2 O 5 pellets.