Structurally complex molybdenum oxide model catalysts for the selective oxidation of propene

Controlling the precipitation of molybdenum oxide in aqueous solution is a method to arrive at structurally complex solids suitable as model catalysts for selective oxidation studies. Defect geometries of the orthorhombic MoO3 (ortho-MoO3) structure that are essential for the catalytic function are fabricated as main structural motif and require no heating of the catalyst to the temperature of initial mobility of lattice oxygen. The precipitation parameters are identified and are reviewed for their relevance on the final product properties