Metal oxides are the key ingredients for the development of many advanced functional materials and smart devices. Nanostructuring has emerged as one of the best tools to unlock their full potential. Tungsten oxides (WOx) are unique materials that have been rigorously studied for their chromism, photocatalysis, and sensing capabilities. However, they exhibit further important properties and functionalities that have received relatively little attention in the past. This Feature Article presents a general review of nanostructured WOx, their properties, methods of synthesis, and a description of how they can be used in unique ways for different applications. Tungsten oxides (WOx) are unique functional materials that can be obtained in a vast variety of nanostructured forms. This Feature Article presents a comprehensive review on the properties of WOx that goes beyond chromism and photocatalysis, for which they are usually investigated for. This is followed by a survey of their synthesis methods and implementations for different applications.

Nanostructured Tungsten Oxide – Properties, Synthesis, and Applications

Electrochromics for smart windows: Oxide-based thin films and devices

This article provides an overview of solution-based methods for the controllable synthesis of metal oxides and their applications for electrochemical energy storage. Typical solution synthesis strategies are summarized and the detailed chemical reactions are elaborated for several common nanostructured transition metal oxides and their composites. The merits and demerits of these synthesis methods and some important considerations are discussed in association with their electrochemical performance. We also propose the basic guideline for designing advanced nanostructure electrode materials, and the future research trend in the development of high power and energy density electrochemical energy storage devices.

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Solution synthesis of metal oxides for electrochemical energy storage applications

A hexagonal WO3 nanowire array film is obtained using a template-free hydrothermal method by adding ammonium sulfate as a capping agent. The WO3 nanowires grown vertically on a FTO-coated glass substrate are woven together at the surface of the film, forming well-aligned arrays at the bottom part and a porous surface morphology. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveal that each nanowire is a hexagonal single crystal and their long axes are oriented toward the [0001] direction. Due to the highly porous surface, good contact with the conductive substrate and large tunnels of the hexagonal-structured WO3, a fast switching speed of 7.6 and 4.2 s for coloration and bleaching, respectively, and a high coloration efficiency of 102.8 cm2C−1 are achieved for the WO3 nanowire array film.

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Hydrothermally synthesized WO3 nanowire arrays with highly improved electrochromic performance

Several of the multiple applications of titanium dioxide nanomaterials are directly related to the introduction or generation of charge carriers in the oxide. Thus, electrochemistry plays a central role in the understanding of the factors that must be controlled for the optimization of the material for each application. Herein, the main conceptual tools needed to address the study of the electrochemical properties of TiO(2) nanostructured electrodes are reviewed, as well as the electrochemical methods to prepare and modify them. Particular attention is paid to the dark electrochemical response of these nanomaterials and its direct connection with the TiO(2) electronic structure, interfacial area and grain boundary density. The physical bases for the generation of currents under illumination are also presented. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the kinetics of charge-carrier transfer to solution determines the sign and value of the photocurrent. Furthermore, methods for extracting kinetic information from open-circuit potential and photocurrent measurements are briefly presented. Some aspects of the combination of electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements are also dealt with. Finally, some of the applications of TiO(2) nanostructured samples derived from their electrochemical properties are concisely reviewed. Particular attention is paid to photocatalytic processes and, to a lesser extent, to photosynthetic reactions as well as to applications related to energy from the aspects of both saving (electrochromic layers) and accumulation (batteries). The use of TiO(2) nanomaterials in solar cells is not covered, as a number of reviews have been published addressing this issue.

Z.J. Zhao

Papers

Enhanced electrochromic performance of macroporous WO3 films formed by anodic oxidation of DC-sputtered tungsten layers

Enhanced giant magnetoimpedance effect in FINEMET/TiO2 composite ribbons