Growth of (WO3)n Rectangular Structures through a LMO−Organic Precursor Route

A LMO-organic (LMO = layered metal oxide) hybrid precursor route has been developed to synthesize rectangular (WO3)n structures. In the present work, regular rectangular orthorhombic (WO3)n has been fabricated by a thermal decomposition of the as-synthesized rectangular [WO3(bpy)0.5]n (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) precursor, which is formed by a process of intercalation, coordination, and self-assembly using the hydrothermal treatment of (WO3)n and 4,4'-bipyridine. The precursor and final products were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron-induced X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, derivative thermogravimetry analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis.