Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of One-Dimensional WO3 and WO3·0.33H2O Nanostructures

The WO3 nanorods and WO3·0.33H2O nanowires are fabricated by a hydrothermal method in the presence of NaCl and K2SO4, respectively. The products are characterized in detail by multiform techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis( EDS), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The WO3 nanorods have diameters ranging from 40-60 nm, and lengths ranging between 500-800 nm. The WO3·0.33H2O nanowires obtained have diameter of 10-15 nm, and lengths of about several microns. The effects of the preparation conditions such as the concentration and species of inorganic salts on the crystalline phase and morphology of the products have been studied systematically. The prepared WO3 nanorods and WO3·0.33H2O nanowires are used as electrode materials to study the electrochemical properties in 1 M LiClO4 solution. The WO3·0.33H2O nanowires showed higher current for lithium intercalation than the WO3 nanorods.