Issue 9, 2010

Preparation of 3-D ordered macroporous tungsten oxides and nano-crystalline particulate tungsten oxides using a colloidal crystal template method, and their structural characterization and application as photocatalysts under visible light irradiation

Abstract

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) tungsten(VI) oxide (WO3) was prepared using a colloidal crystal template method. Well-ordered 3DOM WO3 was prepared with a high pore fraction using ammonium metatungstate ((NH4)6H2W12O40), a Keggin-type dodecatungstate, as a tungsten precursor; WO3 materials prepared by other commercially available W precursors, tungsten chloride (WCl6), tungsten(V) ethoxide (W(OEt)5), and phosphotungstic acid (H3PW12O40), have a low 3DOM pore fraction. These WO3 materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) analysis of nitrogen adsorption isotherm, and Raman spectroscopy. Non-porous WO3 prepared from ammonium metatungstate without a poly(methyl metacrylate) (PMMA) template grew to crystal sizes of up to several micrometres with a low specific surface area (ca. 1–2 m2 g−1). In the presence of a colloidal crystal template of PMMA spheres, WO3 crystal grew in the nanometre-sized voids between the PMMA spheres, and the specific surface area thus increased up to ca. 30 times compared to non-porous WO3. The surface area is tunable by changing the PMMA sphere diameter. Calcination of the 3DOM WO3 produced WO3 nano-crystalline particles by sintering-induced disassembly. After Pt-loading, these WO3 materials showed higher photocatalytic activity compared to non-porous WO3 for decomposition of acetic acid in air under visible light irradiation.

Graphical abstract: Preparation of 3-D ordered macroporous tungsten oxides and nano-crystalline particulate tungsten oxides using a colloidal crystal template method, and their structural characterization and application as photocatalysts under visible light irradiation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Oct 2009
Accepted
10 Dec 2009
First published
18 Jan 2010

J. Mater. Chem., 2010,20, 1811-1818

Preparation of 3-D ordered macroporous tungsten oxides and nano-crystalline particulate tungsten oxides using a colloidal crystal template method, and their structural characterization and application as photocatalysts under visible light irradiation

M. Sadakane, K. Sasaki, H. Kunioku, B. Ohtani, R. Abe and W. Ueda, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 1811 DOI: 10.1039/B922416E

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