Electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of WO 3 coatings grown at low temperatures

The growth of tungsten oxide was carried out on microscope glass substrates using the one-pot direct hydrothermal method. Despite the simplicity of the technique, the coating grown using 0.3 M NaOH at 95 °C after 30 h, exhibited reversible electrochemical response without significant degradation, as studied by cycling voltammetry experiments for at least 250 times in a solution of 1 M LiClO4. This coating at the same time presented marked photocatalytic activity under solar illumination, degrading stearic acid by 52%. The results are discussed in terms of the materials' observed morphology towards which, the role of the growth solution chemistry is examined.