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Branched Tungsten Oxide Nanorod Arrays Synthesized by Controlled Phase Transformation for Solar Water Oxidation
Author(s) -
Zhang Tao,
Wang Lu,
Su Jinzhan,
Guo Liejin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201600267
Subject(s) - nanorod , materials science , annealing (glass) , chemical engineering , oxalate , hydrothermal circulation , tungstate , tungsten , hydrothermal synthesis , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , engineering , metallurgy , composite material
Branched (NH 4 ) 0.33 ⋅WO 3 nanorods have been successfully synthesized by applying a simple hydrothermal approach with ammonium oxalate as capping agents. After annealing them in different atmospheres, the (NH 4 ) 0.33 ⋅WO 3 nanorods were converted to WO 3 nanorods. Atmosphere‐dependent morphology evolution and phase transformation by annealing of (NH 4 ) 0.33 ⋅WO 3 were observed. The branched WO 3 nanorods produce a higher photoelectrochemical activity than the bare WO 3 nanorods without branches obtained under similar conditions, and the improvement of efficiency by branched nanorods was ascribed to the better light‐trapping characteristics and increase in surface area, which facilitates holes transfer at the WO 3 /electrolyte interface. The possible formation mechanisms of branched nanorods have been explored and the results show that the synergistic interaction between ammonium ion (NH 4 + ) and acetate ion (−COO − ) contributes to the formation of branched (NH 4 ) 0.33 ⋅WO 3 nanorods.