Aiping Jin

Nanocomposites of V1.67M0.33O5±δ·nH2O (M = Ti or Mo) xerogels intercalated with hydroquinone and poly(vinyl alcohol)

Layered nanocomposites of V1.67M0.33O5±δ · nH2O (M = Ti or Mo) xerogels intercalated with hydroquinone (HQ) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) are synthesized. When the organic component is intercalated, proper positively charged radicals substitute for the protons of the xerogel. IR and Raman spectroscopy is used to analyze the structural reorganization of the precursors upon composite formation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the composite contain vanadium(V) and vanadium(IV) whose V2p binding energies are lower than in the precursor xerogels. The ac conductivity of nanocomposite films is measured at 1 kHz. V1.67Ti0.33O4.83 · nH2O/HQ has the highest conductivity at 25°C: 0.13 S/m along layers and 1.7 × 10−2 S/m in the normal direction. The thermal properties of the composites in air are considered.