Oxygen deficiency in MoO₃ polycrystalline nanowires and nanotubes

We report on the synthesis of polycrystalline molybdenum oxide (MoO₃) nanowires via oxidation of molybdenum-sulfur-iodine (Mo₆S₂I₈) nanowires. This unique synthesis route results in an interesting morphology comprising porous nanowires and nanotubes. We found the nanowires to have the orthorhombic MoO₃ structure. The structure is slightly oxygen deficient which results in the appearance of a new resonant Raman band (1004 cm⁻¹) and paramagnetic defects (Mo⁵⁺) of both the point and crystallographic shear plane nature. - Highlights: • Polycrystalline MoO₃ nanowires were obtained via oxidation of Mo₆S₂I₈ nanowires. • Nanowires are porous and tubular with either filled or empty interior. • Nanowires are slightly oxygen deficient which leads to a new Raman band.