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Size-controllable synthesis of functional heterostructured TiO2–WO3 core–shell nanoparticles

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Abstract

Mono and bicomponent TiO2 and WO3 nanoparticles were synthesized inside Vycor® glass pores, by cycles of impregnation of the glass with the respective oxide precursor followed by its thermal decomposition. The impregnation-decomposition cycle (IDC) methodology promoted a linear mass increase of the glass matrix, and allowed tuning the nanoparticle size. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy data allowed identifying the formation of TiO2 as anatase phase, while WO3 is a mixture of the γ-WO3 (monoclinic) and δ-WO3 (triclinic) phases. High resolution transmission electron microscopy images revealed that for 3, 5, and 7 IDC, the TiO2 nanoparticles obtained presented average diameters of 3.4, 4.3, and 5.1 nm, and the WO3 nanoparticles have 2.9, 4.6, and 5.7 nm sizes. These TiO2 and WO3 monocomponent nanoparticles were submitted to IDC with the other oxide precursor, resulting in bicomponent nanoparticles. The broadening and shift of the Raman bands related to titanium and tungsten oxides suggest the formation of hetero-structure core–shell nanoparticles with tunable core sizes and shell thicknesses.

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Acknowledgments

EBS and JMSS are indebted to Phd and FAPESP for Postdoctoral fellowships, respectively. FAS and IOM are indebted to CNPq and FAPESP for financial support and to Prof. C.H. Collins (IQ-UNICAMP, Brazil) for English revision. The Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS, Campinas-SP, Brazil) is also gratefully acknowledged for the XPD and HRTEM analysis. This is a contribution of the National Institute of Science and Technology in Complex Functional Materials (CNPq-MCT/FAPESP).

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Correspondence to Italo Odone Mazali.

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de Barros Santos, E., de Souza e Silva, J.M., Sigoli, F.A. et al. Size-controllable synthesis of functional heterostructured TiO2–WO3 core–shell nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 13, 5909–5917 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0502-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0502-0

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