Hierarchical structured tungsten oxide nanocrystals via hydrothermal route: microstructure, formation mechanism and humidity sensing

Hua-Feng Pang, Zhi-Jie Li, Xia Xiang, Yong Qing Fu, Frank Placido, Xiao-Tao Zu

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6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hierarchical structured tungsten oxide nanocrystals were synthesized via the hydrothermal route assisted by a capping agent of ammonium benzoate (AB). The products were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results show that the crystal microstructures could be changed from flower-shape to star-shape by changing the mole ratio of ammonium benzoate to sodium tungstate (AB/ST). The crystal phases were changed from orthorhombic WO3⋅0.33H2O to hexagonal WO3 with the increase in the concentration of AB. Based on the results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and time-dependent growth analysis, a self-assembly growth mechanism has been proposed for the formation of flower, spherical, and star-netted microstructures at different mole ratios of the AB/ST. The star-netted WO3 nanocrystals were applied as a sensitive layer for humidity sensing performed using a Love-mode ZnO/36∘ Y-cut LiTaO3 surface acoustic wave device, and a stable and sensitive response to the change of relative humidity was obtained.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1033-1042
JournalApplied Physics A
Volume112
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2013

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