Semiconductive properties of Mo–V–M–O (M = Zn, Ni, Cu, Sb) oxides, catalysts for isobutane oxidehydrogenation

Electrical conductivity measurements have been performed on Mo–V–M–O (M = Zn, Ni, Cu, Sb) mixed oxides as a function of temperature under air, nitrogen and isobutane. MoO3, V2O5, Mo–V–O and Mo–V–Zn–O oxides were found to be n-type semiconductors, while Mo–V–Ni–O, Mo–V–Cu–O and Mo–V–Sb–O oxides were found to be p-type semiconductors. The electrical conductivity data were correlated with the catalytic properties in the oxidehydrogenation of isobutane and mechanisms for isobutane transformation over n-type and p-type semiconductors, respectively, were proposed.