Synthesis of Nanostructed Tungsten Oxide Thin Films

• A facile and inexpensive method to produce thin films of nanostructured tungsten oxide is described. A nanocrystalline tungstite (WO3·H2O) film is spontaneously formed when a tungsten substrate is immersed in nitric acid at elevated temperatures. The resulting thin film is composed of plate-like tungstite crystals with edges preferentially directed out from the substrate surface. The tungstite can easily be transformed into WO3 by annealing. Patterned WO3·H2O/W structures can be obtained by a combination of lithographic techniques and etching. In this study, the effect of exposure time, acid concentration, and temperature on the microstructure of the films has been investigated. The potential of this inexpensive synthesis method to produce large-area coatings of nanostructured tungsten oxide as well as patterned films makes it interesting for several different applications, such as batteries, gas sensors, and photocatalysts.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Andra medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Other Basic Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Chemistry

Kemi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)