Spatial selectivity of photodeposition reactions on polar surfaces of centrosymmetric ferroelastic γ-WO3

Abstract

Two of three levels of hierarchical ferroelastic domains of γ-WO₃ ceramics are shown to be piezo-responsive (polar) for surfaces of any general orientation. Importantly, the surface activity for the photocathodic reduction of Ag⁺ and photoanodic oxidation of Pb²⁺/Mn²⁺ ions is correlated to those same two levels of ferroelastic domains for all orientations.