Synthesis of WO3 Nanostructures and Their Nanocomposites with Graphene Derivatives via Novel Chemical Approach

Abstract

Trioxide Tungsten (WO3), an n-type semiconductor that exhibits a wide band gap of 2.5 to 3.6 eV, has attracted special attention from the scientific community. This attraction is due to its manifold properties, which not only follow the development of technologies, but accelerate it. There are several methods to synthesize WO3 nanostructures with various morphologies. In the present study, for the first time, a novel chemical method was developed for the preparation of WO3 nanostructures by using tungsten carbide (WC) as precursor. This novel approach has many advantages such as high yields, simple methodology and easy work up. Moreover, graphene oxide coated with WO3 nanostructured is prepared via in-situ and ex-situ chemical approaches followed by subsequent thermal treatment at 500°C. The obtained samples were characterized by different techniques to confirm the transformation of WC to WO3 nanostructures and the formation of their nanocomposites with graphene derivatives.