Iron cation-induced biphase symbiosis of h-WO3/o-WO3·0.33H2O and their crystal phase transition†
Abstract
Herein, tungsten oxide hexagonal prisms with a biphase of h-WO3 and o-WO3·0.33H2O were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method using Fe3+ cations. The combination of instrumental characterization and software simulation proved that two phases coexisted in one nanoparticle with same morphology. The ratio of two phases could be changed by adjusting the concentration of Fe3+ cations. On the basis of controlled experiments, a mechanism was proposed to illustrate the formation of this biphase WO3 structure, and it was also proved that the self-growth of Fe species was unfavorable for the coexistence of two phases.