Effect of synthesis method parameters on the photocatalytic activity of tungsten oxide nanoplates

Abstract

A simple chemical bath deposition method has been developed to study the formation of nanoplate morphology of tungsten oxide. The obtained materials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the resulting samples was further evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine B under light irradiation. It was found that both synthesis parameters and morphology affected the tungsten oxide photocatalytic activity. Tungsten oxide nanoplates obtained by a simple chemical bath deposition method have demonstrated a higher specific area and higher photocatalytic activity compared to the nanopowders obtained by the hydrothermal method.