Thermal stability of hexagonal tungsten trioxide in air

We studied the thermal stability of different hexagonal tungsten trioxide, h-WO₃ samples, which were prepared either by annealing hexagonal ammonium tungsten bronze, (NH₄)_0.33−xWO_3−y, or by soft chemical synthesis from Na₂WO₄. The structure and composition of the samples were studied by powder XRD, SEM-EDX, XPS and ¹H-MAS NMR. The thermal properties were investigated by simultaneous TG/DTA, on-line evolved gas analysis (TG/DAT-MS), SEM and in situ powder XRD. The preparative routes influenced the thermal properties of h-WO₃ samples, i.e. the course of water release, the exothermic collapse of the hexagonal framework and the phase transformations were all affected.     

The effect of K+ ion exchange on the structure and thermal reduction of hexagonal ammonium tungsten bronze

This paper discusses the changes in the structure and thermal reduction of nanosize hexagonal ammonium tungsten bronze (HATB), (NH₄)_0.33−xWO_3−y, which were caused by K⁺ ion exchange (doping) and studied by XRD, XPS, ¹H-MAS NMR, FTIR, SEM and TG/DTA-MS. Comparison of the cell parameters of undoped and doped HATB revealed that both a and c cell parameters decreased after the ion exchange reaction, which showed that smaller K⁺ ions partly replaced the larger NH₄⁺ ions in the hexagonal channels of HATB. After the reaction, from the hexagonal channels less NH₃ evolved, which also supported the incorporation of K⁺ ions into the hexagonal channels.     

Gas sensing selectivity of hexagonal and monoclinic WO3 to H2S

Hexagonal and monoclinic tungsten oxide (h- and m-WO₃) samples were produced by annealing hexagonal ammonium tungsten bronze, (NH₄)_0.07(NH₃)_0.04(H₂O)_0.09WO_2.95 at 470 and at 600 °C, respectively. Their structure, composition and morphology were analyzed by XRD, Raman, XPS, ¹H-MAS NMR and SEM. In order to study the effect of crystal structure on the gas sensitivity of tungsten oxides, h- and m-WO₃ were tested as gas sensors to CH₄, CO, H₂, NO and H₂S (1000 and 10 ppm) at 200 °C. Monoclinic WO₃ responded to all gases, but its gas sensing signal was two magnitudes greater to 10 ppm H₂S than to other gases, and it also detected H₂S even at 25 °C. Hexagonal WO₃ responded only to 10 ppm H₂S. Its sensitivity was smaller compared to m-WO₃, however, the response time of h-WO₃ was significantly faster. The gas sensing tests showed that while m-WO₃ had relative selectivity to H₂S in the presence CH₄, CO, H₂, NO; h-WO₃ had absolute selectivity to H₂S in the presence these gases.     

Thermochemistry of ammonium tungsten bronze, (NH4)0.25WO3

The enthalpy of formation of ammonium tungsten bronze, (NH₄)_0.25WO₃(s), at 298.15 K has been determined by solution calorimetry. The value obtained for formation from NH₃(g), H₂(g) and WO₃(s) was ?25.7 ± 0.8 k¹ mol^?1. The stability of the bronze towards decomposition and oxidation is discussed.     

Ba0.15WO3: A bronze with an original pentagonal tunnel structure

The structure of a new barium tungsten bronze, Ba_0.15WO₃, has been established by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution microscopy studies. This bronze is orthorhombic, space group Pbm2 or Pbmm, with a = 8.859(3) Å, b = 10.039(8) Å, and c = 3.808(2)Å. The “WO₃” framework is built up from corner-sharing WO₆ octahedra forming pentagonal tunnels where the barium ions are located. Structural relationships with hexagonal tungsten bronze and tetragonal tungsten bronze structures are discussed.     

Structure and Thermal Stability of La0.10WO3+y; A Hexagonal Tungsten Bronze Related Phase Formed at High Pressure

The structure and thermal stability of a hexagonal tungsten bronze (HTB) related compound, La_xWO_3+y with x≈0.10 and y≈0.15, has been studied by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and electron microscopy. The structure was refined by the Rietveld method from X-ray powder diffractometer data of a La_0.10WO₃ sample prepared at T=1250°C and P=25 kbar, which consisted of two tungsten bronze related phases in 1:1 proportion. The unit cell dimensions are as follows: La_0.108WO_3+y (y≈0.16), a=7.40890(5), and c=3.79329(4) Å (HTB-related structure); La_0.091WO₃, a=3.82458(6) Å (cubic perovskite tungsten bronze (PTB) structure). The lanthanum atoms in La_0.108WO_3+y are located on the hexagonal axis and statistically distributed on two sites close to the tungsten atom plane. Thermal stability studies of the La_0.10WO₃ sample in an argon atmosphere under ambient pressure conditions revealed that the HTB-related compound is metastable, decomposing to the stable PTB-type structure and WO₃. It was also found from the TG experiments in argon and oxygen that additional oxygen atoms (y) are present in the structure, thus forming a lanthanum tungsten oxide of the above composition. The electron diffraction and microanalysis studies confirmed that crystals of the HTB- and PTB-type structures were formed, with a lanthanum content of x≈0.1.     

Ein neues Syntheseverfahren für die Wolframbronze Cs0,29WO3

A Novel Synthetic Access to the Tungsten Bronze Cs_0.29WO₃ and its Crystal Structure The hexagonal tungsten bronze Cs_0.29WO₃ was obtained in form of black, prismatic crystal by the reduction of WO₃ with molten cesium iodide at 700°C. Its crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction (399 unique observed reflexions, R = 0.058). Crystal data: a = 741.2(3), c = 760.0(5) pm, space group P6₃22, Z = 6. It corresponds to the known structure of hexagonal tungsten bronzes, having tungsten atoms displaced from the octahedra centres by 11.9 pm and with three different W? O bond lengths (198, 191, 187 pm). The WO₆ octahedra are slightly titled mutually.     

The h-SbxWO3+2x Oxygen Excess Antimony Tungsten Bronze

We describe the previously unreported oxygen excess hexagonal antimony tungsten bronze with composition Sb_0.5W₃O₁₀, in the following denoted as h-Sb_xWO_3+2x with x=0.167, to demonstrate its analogy to classical A_xWO₃ tungsten bronzes. This compound forms in a relatively narrow temperature range between 580 °C<T<620 °C. It was obtained as a dark-blue polycrystalline powder, and as thin, needle-shaped, blue single crystals. h-Sb_xWO_3+2x crystallizes in the hexagonal space group P6/mmm with the cell parameters a=7.4369(4) Å and c=3.7800(2) Å. The antimony and excess oxygen occupy the hexagonal channels within the network of corner-sharing WO₆ octahedra. h-Sb_xWO_3+2x has a resistivity of ρ_{300 K}≈1.28 mΩ cm at room temperature, with little if any temperature-dependence on cooling. DFT calculations on a simplified model for this compound find a metallic-like electronic structure with the Fermi level falling within rather flat bands, especially around the Γ point.     

Partial thermal reduction of ammonium paratungstate tetrahydrate

Thermal decomposition of ammonium paratungstate tetrahydrate, (NH₄)₁₀[H₂W₁₂O₄₂]·4H₂O has been followed by simultaneous TG/DTA and online evolved gas analysis (TG/DTA-MS) in flowing 10% H₂/Ar directly up to 900°C. Solid intermediate products have been structurally evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). A previously unexplained exothermic heat effect has been detected at 700–750°C. On the basis of TG/DTA as well as H₂O and NH₃ evolution curves and XRD patterns, it has been assigned to the formation and crystallization heat of γ-tungsten-oxide (WO_2.72/W₁₈O₄₉) from β-tungsten-oxide (WO_2.9/W₂₀O₅₈) and residual ammonium tungsten bronze.     

High-Pressure Synthesis of Fully Occupied Tetragonal and Cubic Tungsten Bronze Oxides

A high-pressure reaction yielded the fully occupied tetragonal tungsten bronze K₃W₅O₁₅ (K_0.6WO₃). The terminal phase shows an unusual transport property featuring slightly negative temperature-dependence in resistivity (dρ/dT<0) and a large Wilson ratio of R_W=3.2. Such anomalous metallic behavior possibly arises from the low-dimensional electronic structure with a van Hove singularity at the Fermi level and/or from enhanced magnetic fluctuations by geometrical frustration of the tungsten sublattice. The asymmetric nature of the tetragonal tungsten bronze K_xWO₃-K_0.6−yBa_yWO₃ phase diagram implies that superconductivity for x≤0.45 originates from the lattice instability because of potassium deficiency. A cubic perovskite KWO₃ phase was also identified as a line phase—in marked contrast to Na_xWO₃ and Li_xWO₃ with varying quantities of x (<1). This study presents a versatile method by which the solubility limit of tungsten bronze oxides can be extended.     

铂-氢钨青铜电极的制备及对氢氧化的电催化

采用电化学还原法在表面改性的碳布上,通过改变催化剂沉积顺序及氢钨青铜沉积时间制备铂-氢钨青铜复合催化剂,所得电极作为质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)阳极。利用X射线衍射(XRD)、热重分析(TG)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、循环伏安(CV)及单电池极化性能测试研究了催化剂的组成、沉积量、分散性及其对氢氧化的电催化活性。实验结果表明,氢钨青铜沉积时间及催化剂沉积顺序对电极催化性能有显著影响,当氢钨青铜沉积时间为10 min,先沉积氢钨青铜、后沉积铂所得Pt/HxWO3电极对氢氧化具有最佳的催化活性。适量的氢钨青铜才能与铂形成较好的协同催化效应。     

Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue over Hexagonal WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Graphene under Visible-Light Irradiation

A series of composites containing hexagonal tungsten trioxide (h-WO₃) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets are synthesized via a modified one-step hydrothermal route without assisted additive. The composites are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The new procedure made it possible to increase the reduction degree of GO. Based on the evidence presented hexagonal WO₃ grows on the surface of graphene through chemical interactions with the surface. The visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue shows that the h-WO₃/rGO composites exhibit superior photocatalytic performance of 96% with a maximum degradation rate achieved under visible-light irradiation for 6 h. The speculations concerning the mechanism of photocatalytic reactions are discussed. The improved photocatalytic activity can be accounted for by the increased adsorption toward chemical species, the enhanced light absorption and an efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and transfer of charge carriers.     

Electrochemical lithium intercalation into WO3 and lithium tungstates Li x WO3+ x /2 of various structures

Hexagonal and monoclinic tungsten trioxides WO₃ and hexagonal lithium tungstates Li _x WO_{3+ x /2} (x = 0.10–0.42) from a soft chemistry route were used as the active cathode material in secondary lithium batteries. The hexagonal structures, regardless of their being an oxide or a tungstate, showed higher specific capacities and better cycling behavior in Li⁺ intercalation reactions than the monoclinic form. The presence of pre-allocated lithium (as Li₂O) in hexagonal tungstates decreased the capacity for lithium intercalation. Additionally, the plot of open-circuit voltage (OCV) against the depth of intercalation (n) for anhydrous tungstates showed two straight lines with different slopes that can be related to the structural changes in lithium intercalation. The effective diffusion coefficients of lithium insertion into the host structure, D˜, were also found to be dependent on the structure and the composition of these compounds. Received: 28 November 1997 / Accepted: 6 March 1998     

Structural, Vibrational, and Gasochromic Properties of Porous WO3 Films Templated with a Sol-Gel Organic–Inorganic Hybrid

 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.     

Infrared and X-ray studies of hydrogen intercalation in different tungsten trioxides and tungsten trioxide hydrates

Hydrogen intercalation via spillover reaction in various tungsten trioxides leads to the formation of blue hydrogen bronzes. These reversible reactions induce changes in the W-O bond system while maintaining the W-O skeleton. The effect of the intercalation process on the host crystalline structure has been studied with respect to the ν(O-W-O) stretching vibration changes and lattice parameter variations by means of infrared and X-ray diffraction measurements. Among the main results, the intercalation process is shown to be strongly influenced by the structural type of the host compound as well as its amorphous versus crystalline nature. For instance, for the ReO₃ type oxides (monoclinic and cubic WO₃) and hexagonal WO₃, ν(O-W-O) shifts to higher frequency are assigned to a shortening effect of W-O bonds. A W-O bond system arrangement is also measured for the crystallized and amorphous hydrates WO₃ · H₂O, but no detectable changes could be found in the pyrochlore WO₃ and in the hydrate WO₃·1/3 H₂O. Received: 5 March 1997 / Accepted: 21 May 1997     

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.     

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     

Characterization of h-WO3 nanorods synthesized by hydrothermal process

Hexagonal tungsten oxide nanorods have been synthesized by hydrothermal strategy using Na₂WO₄·2H₂O as tungsten source, aniline and sulfate sodium as structure-directing templates. Techniques X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy have been used to characterize the structure, morphology and composition of the nanorods. The h-WO₃ nanorods are up to 5 μm in length, and 50–70 nm in diameter.     

The thallium tungstate Tl2W4O13: A tunnel structure related to the hexagonal tungsten bronze

The crystal structure of thallium tungstate Tl₂W₄O₁₃ (a = 7.327Å; b = 37.864 Å; c = 3.840 Å; space group Pmab) has been resolved by three-dimensional single-crystal X-ray analysis. The average structure was resolved by standard Patterson and Fourier techniques and refined by full-matrix least squares to final agreement indices R = 0.087 and R_w = 0.100. Superstructure reflections referred to a supercell (a, b, 2c; space group Pcab) led to a framework model which is described. The structure consists of corner-sharing chains of WO₆ octahedra parallel to a and c axes. Hexagonal and pentagonal tunnels, bound by these chains, are filled by thallium atoms. The atomic arrangement is closely related to the hexagonal bronze structure. The tungstate Tl₂W₄O₁₃ can thus be considered as a member of a series of phases (TlB₃X₉)_n · Tl₆B₁₀X₃₄ (X = O, F) involving hexagonal tungsten bronze ribbons.     

Phase relations in the SnWO ternary system near to WO3

Phase relations in the SnWO system for compositions near to WO₃ and temperatures up to 1173 K have been determined by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The phase limits for the bronzes previously reported in this system have been determined. For the orthorhombic I bronzes the phase limits are from Sn_0.04WO₃ to Sn_0.06WO₃. Two orthorhombic II bronze phases form, one at a composition of Sn_0.13WO₃ to Sn_0.15WO₃, and another at Sn_0.16WO₃. These bronzes have structures which consist of lamellae of WO₃ united by fault planes. The other bronze phase to form, with the tetragonal tungsten bronze structure, has a lower composition limit of Sn_0.21WO₃.