Preparation and characterization of the Ti/IrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> as supercapacitor electrode materials

WO₃ films have been prepared onto IrO₂-coated Ti substrate by electro-deposition, and as-deposited and annealed films have been characterized by using Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the asdeposited film consists of orthorhombic WO₃ · H₂O phase, which transforms to amorphous WO₃ by annealing at 250°C and to monoclinic phase by annealing at and above 350°C. All electrochemical experiments were carried on Ti/IrO₂/WO₃ annealed at 450°C. The open-circuit potential could change significantly due to the hydration of the coating film. However this process is fairly slow. Reproducible voltammograms could be obtained quickly, further revealing high electrochemical stability of the Ti/IrO₂/WO₃ electrode. And the shapes of CV show the approximate rectangular mirror image, showing the typical characteristic of capacitive behavior. The specific capacitance obtained at a scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹ is 46 F g⁻¹.     

Structural,Vibrational, and Gasochromic Properties of Porous WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Films Templated with a Sol-Gel Organic–Inorganic Hybrid

Summary.  The structure and the gasochromic properties of sol-gel-derived WO₃ films with a monoclinic structure (m-WO₃) were studied by focusing attention on the size of the monoclinic grains. The size of the m-WO₃ grains is modified by the addition of an organic–inorganic hybrid to the initial peroxopolytungstic acid (W-PTA) sols which are based on chemically bonded poly-(propylene glycol) to triethoxysilane end-capping groups (ICS-PPG). The results obtained with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show that the heat treatment (500°C) of WO₃/ICS-PPG (0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 mol%) composite films results in a change of their morphology, and nanodimensional pores are formed between the grains. High-resolution TEM (HRTEM) analysis revealed the presence of an amorphous phase on the outside of the m-WO₃ grains, whereas energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDXS) showed that this amorphous phase contained W and Si. Impregnation of the WO₃/ICS-PPG film with H₂PtCl₆/i-propanol solution followed by heat treatment at 380°C gave the films their gasochromic properties. Infrared and Raman spectroscopic studies of the WO₃/ICS-PPG film confirmed the results of the corresponding HRTEM and EDXS analysis. In situ UV/Vis and in situ IR spectra of the films were measured in hydrogen and in air, and colouring/bleaching changes and the corresponding kinetics were assessed. The IR spectra of gasochromically coloured films showed that the mesoporous WO₃/ICS-PPG (1 mol%) film transforms to tetragonal H _x WO₃ bronze. The IR spectra of the H _x WO₃ bronze are discussed with the aim to establish the existence of the metal-OH vibrations of gasochromically formed oxyhydroxide tungsten bronze. Received October 4, 2001. Accepted (revised) November 19, 2001     

Electrochromic and structural characteristics of mesoporous WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> films prepared by a sol-gel method

The preparation of electrochromic films of mesoporous tungsten trioxide from tungstic acid and tungstic hexaethoxide precursors with the addition of an organic stabiliser via a sol-gel method is reported. These films have been structurally characterised and both the film morphology and crystalline composition of the films were found to be significantly dependent on the temperature at which the films were annealed and upon the choice of precursor. Films annealed at lower temperatures consisted of amorphous and hexagonal tungsten trioxide, whereas films annealed above 500 °C comprised solely of monoclinic WO₃. The electrochromic activity of the films was found to be equally dependent on method of preparation, and both the composition and the structure of the WO₃ films were shown to clearly influence the colouration efficiency of the films.Dedicated to Zbigniew Galus on the occasion of his 70^th birthday.     

WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin film coating from H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-controlled peroxotungstic acid and its electrochromic properties

We prepared PTA coating solution by hot plate evaporation, N₂ bubbling evaporation, and rotary evaporation. N₂ bubbling and rotary evaporation are very efficient way to synthesize PTA which reduces the synthesis process time to 1/5, compared to hot plate evaporation method. Another strong point is that N₂ bubbling and rotary evaporation make it possible to control excess hydrogen peroxide and water contents in PTA. The PTA formula were WO₃·0.13H₂O₂·10.0H₂O for hot plate method, WO₃·0.16H₂O₂·7.1H₂O for N₂ bubbling method, and WO₃·0.15H₂O₂·3.00H₂O for rotary evaporation method. Thermal analysis and mass spectroscopy analysis show that water is evaporated at around 100 °C and hydrogen peroxide is dissociated at the range of 150 and 250 °C. Amorphous phase of WO₃ thin film prepared from rotary evaporated PTA solution has the best electrochromic property, light transmission difference from 91% at its bleached state and 5.5% colored state, and charge density of 22 mC/cm². It is thought that the control of excess hydrogen peroxide and water contents in PTA is very important to enhance the electrochromic properties of WO₃ thin film.     

Solvent effects on the photoelectrochemical properties of WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and its application as dopamine sensor

Nanostructured WO₃ films were produced by a simple method using ammonium tungstate dissolved in different solvents: ethanol, PEG 300, and a mixture of ethylene glycol with PEG 300. The suspensions were deposited on an FTO substrate by drop casting method and calcined at 500 °C in air atmosphere. The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemistry measurements. FTO substrates were fully covered by a thin and adherent WO₃ film, which presented a nanostructure with particle diameter of 30–80 nm. XRD confirms the monoclinic structure of WO₃. Ethanol samples presented higher photocurrent for water oxidation, compared to other solvents. However, these electrodes showed high fragility and the response did not present repeatability. High adhesion was obtained with PEG as solvent (by itself or mixed with ethylene glycol). In addition, WO₃ was applied as a photoelectrochemical sensor to detect dopamine under visible light irradiation. The developed sensor showed photosensitivity to dopamine with reproducibility, stability, wide linear range, and low detection limit (0.30 μM).     

Effect of tungsten oxide loading on metathesis activity of ethene and 2-butene over WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The metathesis of ethene and 2-butene to propene was studied over WO₃/SiO₂ catalysts with various WO₃ loadings (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 wt%). The 2-butene conversion and propene selectivity increased greatly with WO₃ loading increasing from 2 to 8 wt%, reached maximum at 8–12 wt% WO₃ loading, and then decreased when the WO₃ loading was higher than 12 wt%. From the above results and taking the economics into account, the optimal amount of WO₃ loading was ~8 wt%. The catalysts were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic techniques to elucidate the effect of different tungsten oxide loadings on the metathesis reactivity of ethene and 2-butene. The characterization data indicated that three types of tungsten species (i.e., surface tetrahedral tungsten species, surface octahedral polytungstate species, and WO₃ crystallites) were present in the catalysts. It was found that WO₃ was not the active centers, and surface tetrahedral tungsten species might be more active than octahedral polytungstate species in metathesis reaction. The reduced form of tungsten species [W⁺⁴, W⁺⁵, and W^+(6−y) (0 < y < 1)] may be the suitable state of W species acting as metathesis active centers.     

Kinetics of formation of barium tungstate in equimolar powder mixture of BaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The formation of Barium monotungstate (BaWO₄) particles in equimolar powder mixtures of BaCO₃ and WO₃ was examined under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions upon heating in air at 25–1200 °C, using thermogravimetry. Concurrence of the observed mass loss (due to the release of CO₂) to the occurrence of the formation reaction was evidenced. Accordingly, the extent of reaction (x) was determined as a function of time (t) or temperature (T). The x–t and x–T data thus obtained were processed using well established mathematical apparatus and methods, in order to characterize nature of reaction rate-determining step, and derive isothermal and non-isothermal kinetic parameters. Moreover, the reaction mixture quenched at various temperatures (600–1,000 °C) in the reaction course was analyzed by various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, for material characterization. The results obtained indicated that the reaction rate may be controlled by unidirectional diffusion of WO₃ species across the product layer (BaWO₄), which was implied to form on the barium carbonate particles. The isothermally determined activation energy (118–125 kJ/mol) was found to be more credible than that (245 kJ/mol) determined non-isothermally.     

Mutual spontaneous and electrosurface processes at heterophase interfaces WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>|Me<Subscript>2</Subscript>(WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> (Me = In,Eu, Sc)

For the first time ever it is demonstrated in this work that, in spontaneous conditions and following the imposition of an electric field, mutual penetration of components of WO₃ and Me₂(WO₄)₃ occurs at heterophase interfaces WO₃|Me₂(WO₄)₃ where Me = In, Eu, or Sc. Tungstic oxide WO₃ is pulled onto the inner surface of ceramic Me₂(WO₄)₃ and, in turn, components of Me₂(WO₄)₃ penetrate onto the surface of grains of ceramic WO₃, which is confirmed by the method of x-ray—fluorescence analysis. Data concerning the conductivity and transport numbers of Eu₂(WO₄)₃ and a composite on its basis, which was manufactured as a result the electrosurface transport of WO₃, are obtained for the first time ever. With allowance made for the data on the O_2? character of the ionic conduction in MeWO₄ and Eu₂(WO₄)₃ it is concluded that the type of ionic carriers in tungstates (Me ⁿ⁺)_2/n [WO₄] makes no impact on the mechanism of spontaneous and field-induced processes that are developing at the (Me ⁿ⁺)_2/n [WO₄]|WO₃ interfaces.     

WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> films prepared by thermal oxidation of magnetron-sputtered tungsten: Synthesis and properties

X-ray powder diffraction shows that a monoclinic WO_2.90 film is formed during the thermal oxidation of 200-nm-thick magnetron-sputtered metallic tungsten on quartz substrates at T = 793 K. Temperature elevation to T = 840 K yields orthorhombic WO₃ with preferred (001) orientation. Adsorption spectroscopy shows that these films have high transparency (～90%) in the wavelength range 450–900 nm, and interference is observed in the transparency range. Two types of transitions are discovered: indirect transitions with the energies E _gi = 2.77 and 2.41 eV and direct transitions with the energies E _gd = 5.49 and 4.82 eV for the oxide films formed at 793 and 840 K, respectively. The tendency toward the increase in the transition energy with increasing annealing temperature proves that the crystallinity and order of the film improve.     

Effect of oxygen activity in the gaseous phase on the mechanism of reactions in the solid-state synthesis of In<Subscript>2</Subscript>(WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> and In<Subscript>6</Subscript>WO<Subscript>12</Subscript>

The effect of oxygen’s activity on the rate of In₂(WO₄)₃ and In₆WO₁₂ formation reactions was studied to determine the reaction mass transfer mechanism. It was established that the formation of In₂(WO₄)₃ in a model reaction cell is due to the transfer of WO ₄ ^2? components and electrons moving in opposite directions through the reaction product. The relation between the diffusion coefficients of the carriers was found. The rate of electron diffusion and the reaction rate were shown to vary according to the law \(K_p \approx D_{\lim } = D_e \sim a_{O_2 }^{ - 1/4} \). We conclude that the formation of electronic conductor In₆WO₁₂ is a two-region process: at the In₂(WO₄)₃ | In₆WO₁₂ interface, the product is formed on the In₂(WO₄)₃ surface due to {WO₃} escaping toward In₂O₃, and at the In₆WO₁₂ | In₂O₃ interface, the product is formed on the In₂O₃ surface via the reaction of diffuse {WO₃} with In₂O₃. The probable relationship between the diffusion coefficients of the In₆WO₁₂ components was obtained. A relation was developed for the process rate. The diffusion coefficients for the limiting component were calculated using the data on the estimated thickness of the product layers.     

Preparation of WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve and its performance as an oxidative desulfurization catalyst

The tungsten-containing mesoporous molecular sieve WO₃-SBA-15 (SBA: Santa Barbara Amorphous type materials) was prepared under conventional hydrothermal conditions in strong acidic solution using H₂WO₄ as tungsten source, tetraethyl orthosilicate as silicon source, and a mixture of P123 tri-block copolymer (EO₂₀PO₇₀EO₂₀) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as structure-directing agent. The catalyst was tested for oxidative desulfurization and characterized by X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. The catalyst had the highest desulfurization performance (i.e., 91.3%) after oxidation under the following reaction conditions: 20 mL gasoline with 540 ppm sulfur, 6 mol H₂O₂/sulfur, reaction temperature 333 K, reaction time 80 min, and three extraction cycles.     

Preparation and Characterisation of Nano-Structured WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Layers for Photoelectrochromic Devices

Nano-structured WO₃-TiO₂ layers were prepared by the sol-gel route. To obtain transparent, porous and crack free layers up to 0.8 μ m with a single dipping cycle a templating strategy was used. As a template three-dimensionally network based on organically modified silane was introduced to the WO₃ and TiO₂ sols. The WO₃ layers were dip-coated onto the conductive glass substrate (TCO) and the TiO₂ layers on the top of the WO₃ layer. The morphology and the structure of the layers were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS), Auger and Infrared spectroscopy. SEM image of the WO₃-TiO₂ layer confirmed the nano-porosity of the layers and give the size of the particles of about 10 nm for TiO₂ and 30 nm for WO₃ layer. Further analysis indicated that the titanium sol penetrates the WO₃ layer. Particles in the WO₃ layer consist of a crystalline monoclinic WO₃ core surrounded by a 5–10 nm amorphous phase consisting of WO₃, TiO₂ and SiO₂. The WO₃-TiO₂ layers were used to assemble all solid state photoelectrochromic (PE) devices. Under 1 sun irradiation (1000 W/m²) the visible transmittance of the PE device changes from 62% to 1.6%. The colouring and bleaching processes last about 10 minutes.     

NaBO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>WO<Subscript>4</Subscript> quaternary system

This is the first study of the NaBO₂-Na₂CO₃-Na₂MoO₄-Na₂WO₄ quaternary system by differential thermal analysis. Na₂[MoO_4(x)WO_{4(1 − x)}] solid solutions in the quaternary system are found to not decompose.     

Catalytic Activity of WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> with Pt and Pd Additives in Oxidation of Hydrogen

We have shown that WO₃ and MoO₃ with Pt or Pd additives exhibit high catalytic activity in the reaction of H₂ oxidation. In the temperature range 313 K to 353 K, we have studied the kinetic behavior of the reaction on 0.1 mass % Pt(Pd)/WO₃ and Pt(Pd)/MoO₃ samples. We have established that the kinetics of H₂ oxidation on these catalysts correspond to an Eley - Rideal mechanism. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Eksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 313–316, September–October, 2005.     

A novel WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> photocatalyst applied to the decolorization of the textile dye Reactive Blue 198

A novel FTO/WO₃ electrode decorated with MoS₂ was constructed using two simple and low-cost techniques involving a modified single-step sol-gel method for the WO₃ film together with the electrodeposition of amorphous MoS₂. The photoelectrocatalytic performance of the material was investigated by monitoring the degradation of Reactive Blue 198 dye under visible-light irradiation. The FTO/WO₃/MoS₂ electrode exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and afforded total decolorization of the dye after 90 min at low applied current density (5 mA cm^?2). The results described herein support the view that MoS₂ acts as a noble metal-free cocatalyst by promoting H₂ evolution and assisting in the suppression of electron/hole pair recombination in the photocatalytic material (WO₃), thereby improving the process of decolorization of the dye solution. The novel approach of combining of the WO₃ and MoS₂ materials shows particular promise and may prove to be very effective in the photocatalytic degradation of other hazardous organic compounds.     

Dielectric and tunable properties of highly (110)-oriented (Ba<Subscript>0.65</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.35</Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films deposited on Pt/LaNiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Si substrates

Highly (110)-oriented Ba_0.65Sr_0.35TiO₃ films were deposited on Pt/LaNiO₃/SiO₂/Si substrates by a sol–gel method. It was found that the (110)-preferred Pt film was very effective for growing (110)-oriented ferroelectric films with perovskite structure. The as-grown Ba_0.65Sr_0.35TiO₃ films showed good dielectric properties with dielectric constant and loss tangent tan δ = 0.026. Excellent dielectric tunability was also achieved in the (110)-oriented films. With applying an electric field of 230 kV/cm at 100 kHz, the dielectric tunability and the figure of merit can reach up to 63.4% and 16, respectively. These results indicate that the highly (110)-oriented Ba_0.65Sr_0.35TiO₃ film is a promising candidate for the applications in microwave tunable devices.     

Solid-phase synthesis of sodium-bismuth tungstate NaBi(WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Results of a solid-phase synthesis of polycrystalline sodium-bismuth tungstate NaBi(WO₄)₂ from NaNO₃, Na₂WO₄, Bi₂O₃, and WO₃ are presented. The optimal synthesis conditions are determined and a technological flow chart for synthesis of a single-phase product is suggested.     

TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> photoanodes with enhanced photocatalytic activity for air treatment in a polymer electrolyte cell

The application of electrochemically enhanced photocatalysis in air treatment using a Nafion-based photoelectrochemical cell and TiO₂/WO₃ photoanodes for organic vapor photooxidation under both UV and visible light irradiation is briefly presented. In that direction, the obtained results regarding the preparation and characterization of the TiO₂/WO₃ photoanodes with enhanced photocatalytic activity are reviewed. Particular emphasis is given in the comparison of the photocatalytic behavior of bilayer TiO₂/WO₃ coatings, electrosynthesized on stainless steel mesh and powder C + mixed (WO₃ + TiO₂) photoanodes. The advantages of using a high surface area C + mixed (WO₃ + TiO₂) powder catalysts as photoanodes against their plain TiO₂ + C and WO₃ + C analogues are discussed.     

Electrochemical deposition of Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> for thermoelectric microdevices

The electrolyses of solutions of bismuth oxide and tellurium oxide in nitric acid with molar ratios of Bi:Te=3:3–4:3 lead to cathodic deposits of films of bismuth telluride (Bi₂Te₃), an n-type semiconductor. Current densities of 2–5 mA/cm² were applied. Voltammetric investigations showed that Bi₂Te₃ deposition occurred at potentials more negative than −0.125 V (Ag/AgCl, 3 M KCl). The deposit was identified as bismuth telluride (γ-phase) by X-ray analysis. Hall-effect measurements verified the n-type semiconducting behaviour. The films can be deposited in microstructures for thermoelectric microdevices like thermoelectric batteries or thermoelectric sensors.     

Thermal study on electrospun polyvinylpyrrolidone/ammonium metatungstate nanofibers: optimising the annealing conditions for obtaining WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanofibers

This article demonstrates how important it is to find the optimal heating conditions when electrospun organic/inorganic composite fibers are annealed to get ceramic nanofibers in appropriate quality (crystal structure, composition, and morphology) and to avoid their disintegration. Polyvinylpyrrolidone [PVP, (C₆H₉NO) _n ] and ammonium metatungstate [AMT, (NH₄)₆[H₂W₁₂O₄₀]·nH₂O] nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning aqueous solutions of PVP and AMT. The as-spun fibers and their annealing were characterized by TG/DTA-MS, XRD, SEM, Raman, and FTIR measurements. The 400–600 nm thick and tens of micrometer long PVP/AMT fibers decomposed thermally in air in four steps, and pure monoclinic WO₃ nanofibers formed between 500 and 600 °C. When a too high heating rate and heating temperature (10 °C min⁻¹, 600 °C) were used, the WO₃ nanofibers completely disintegrated. At lower heating rate but too high temperature (1 °C min⁻¹, 600 °C), the fibers broke into rods. If the heating rate was adequate, but the annealing temperature was too low (1 °C min⁻¹, 500 °C), the nanofiber morphology was excellent, but the sample was less crystalline. When the optimal heating rate and temperature (1 °C min⁻¹, 550 °C) were applied, WO₃ nanofibers with excellent morphology (250 nm thick and tens of micrometer long nanofibers, which consisted of 20–80 nm particles) and crystallinity (monoclinic WO₃) were obtained. The FTIR and Raman measurements confirmed that with these heating parameters the organic matter was effectively removed from the nanofibers and monoclinic WO₃ was present in a highly crystalline and ordered form.