Synthesis of monodisperse WO3•2H2O nanospheres by microwave hydrothermal process with L(+) tartaric acid as a protective agent

Monodisperse crystalline WO(3)center dot 2H(2)O (H(2)WO(4)center dot H(2)O) nanospheres have been prepared by L (+) tartaric acid-assisted microwave hydrothermal (MH) process for the first time. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern indicated that the product was in good agreement with the standard JCPDS data for WO(3)center dot 2H(2)O. The particle sizes and shapes have been measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The effects of the mass ratios of L (+) tartaric acid to Na(2)WO(4)center dot 2H(2)O on the morphology of WO(3)center dot 2H(2)O have been investigated. Finally, The formation mechanism for L (+) tartaric acid-assisted MH synthesis of the WO(3)-2H(2)O nanospheres was also discussed in detail. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.