Growth and characterization of stoichiometric tungsten oxide nanorods by thermal evaporation and subsequent annealing

Stoichiometric tungsten oxide (WO(3)) nanorods are synthesized on tungsten (W) substrates by a high-temperature, catalyst-free, physical deposition process and by subsequent annealing in oxygen atmosphere. Tungsten oxide nanorods are grown by thermal evaporation of WO(3) powder at elevated temperature in a tube furnace. XRD, TEM and XPS analysis shows that the as-grown nanorods are single crystalline and non-stoichiometric (WO(x)). Annealing of WO(x) nanorods at 700 °C under oxygen atmosphere has led to the formation of stoichiometric WO(3) as evidenced by XRD, XPS and Raman analysis.