Improvement in photocatalytic activity of stable WO3 nanoplatelet globular clusters arranged in a tree-like fashion: Influence of rotation velocity during anodization

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of controlled hydrodynamic conditions during anodization of tungsten (W) on the morphological, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of a novel WO3 nanostructure: globular clusters of nanoplatelets associated in a tree-like fashion. For this purpose different techniques such as Field-Emission Scanning Electronic Microscopy (FE-SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, Mott-Schottky (M-S) analysis and photoelectrochemical water splitting tests have been carried out. Photoanodes obtained at 375 rpm showed the best photoresponse, much higher than that of conventional WO3 nanoplatelets, which can be ascribed to a noteworthy increase in the electrochemically active surface area leading to improved charge transfer at the interface. Moreover, the improved WO3 nanostructure displayed very good long-term photostability when irradiated with AM 1.5 illumination, thus solving the recurrent problem of the poor stability of WO3 against photodegradation processes.