Controlled Growth of WO3Nanostructures with Three Different Morphologies and Their Structural, Optical, and Photodecomposition Studies

Tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanostructures were synthesized by hydrothermal method using sodium tungstate (Na2WO4·2H2O) alone as starting material, and sodium tungstate in presence of ferrous ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2Fe(SO4)2·6H2O] or cobalt chloride (CoCl2·6H2O) as structure-directing agents. Orthorhombic WO3having a rectangular slab-like morphology was obtained when Na2WO4·2H2O was used alone. When ferrous ammonium sulfate and cobalt chloride were added to sodium tungstate, hexagonal WO3nanowire clusters and hexagonal WO3nanorods were obtained, respectively. The crystal structure and orientation of the synthesized products were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and their chemical composition was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optical properties of the synthesized products were verified by UV–Vis and photoluminescence studies. A photodegradation study on Procion Red MX 5B was also carried out, showing that the hexagonal WO3nanowire clusters had the highest photodegradation efficiency

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles promote arrhythmias via a direct interaction with rat cardiac tissue

BackgroundIn light of recent developments in nanotechnologies, interest is growing to better comprehend the interaction of nanoparticles with body tissues, in particular within the cardiovascular system. Attention has recently focused on the link between environmental pollution and cardiovascular diseases. Nanoparticles <50 nm in size are known to pass the alveolar¿pulmonary barrier, enter into bloodstream and induce inflammation, but the direct pathogenic mechanisms still need to be evaluated. We thus focused our attention on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, the most diffuse nanomaterial in polluted environments and one generally considered inert for the human body.MethodsWe conducted functional studies on isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes exposed acutely in vitro to TiO2 and on healthy rats administered a single dose of 2 mg/Kg TiO2 NPs via the trachea. Transmission electron microscopy was used to verify the actual presence of TiO2 nanoparticles within cardiac tissue, toxicological assays were used to assess lipid peroxidation and DNA tissue damage, and an in silico method was used to model the effect on action potential.ResultsVentricular myocytes exposed in vitro to TiO2 had significantly reduced action potential duration, impairment of sarcomere shortening and decreased stability of resting membrane potential. In vivo, a single intra-tracheal administration of saline solution containing TiO2 nanoparticles increased cardiac conduction velocity and tissue excitability, resulting in an enhanced propensity for inducible arrhythmias. Computational modeling of ventricular action potential indicated that a membrane leakage could account for the nanoparticle-induced effects measured on real cardiomyocytes.ConclusionsAcute exposure to TiO2 nanoparticles acutely alters cardiac excitability and increases the likelihood of arrhythmic events

Electrochromic Devices Based on Porous Tungsten Oxide Thin Films

Recent developments in the synthesis of transition metal oxides in the form of porous thin films have opened up opportunities in the construction of electrochromic devices with enhanced properties. In this paper, synthesis, characterization and electrochromic applications of porous WO3 thin films with different nanocrystalline phases, such as hexagonal, monoclinic, and orthorhombic, are presented. Asymmetric electrochromic devices have been constructed based on these porous WO3 thin films. XRD measurements of the intercalation/deintercalation of Li+ into/from the WO3 layer of the device as a function of applied coloration/bleaching voltages show systematic changes in the lattice parameters associated with structural phase transitions in LixWO3. Micro-Raman studies show systematic crystalline phase changes in the spectra of WO3 layers during Li+ ion intercalation and deintercalation, which agree with the XRD data. These devices exhibit interesting optical modulation (up to ~70%) due to intercalation/deintercalation of Li ions into/from the WO3 layer of the devices as a function of applied coloration/bleaching voltages. The obtained optical modulation of the electrochromic devices indicates that, they are suitable for applications in electrochromic smart windows

Micro-Raman Spectroscopy on polyethylene-glycol assisted Sol-Gel Meso and Macroporous WO3 Thin Films for Electrochromic Applications

Tungsten oxide (WO3) is one of the most promising materials for electrochromic devices and is currently investigated for applications in catalysis, ferroelectricity and in sensor technology. Here a molecular assembly approach to synthesize by sol–gel meso and macroporous thin films of tungsten oxide using polyethylene-glycol as a templating agent is reported. Micro-Raman spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the structure of WO3 thin films, deposited by dip-coating on glass, as a function of thermal annealing. This modified sol–gel route promotes the coexistence of a sub-stoichiometric monoclinic phase (most probably the WO2.72 phase) together with some hydrous phases (WO3·nH2O) even in samples heat treated up to 500 °C

WO3 thin films by sol-gel for electrochromic applications

Tungsten oxide (WO3) is one of the most promising materials for electrochromic devices. WO3 thin films have been prepared at low temperature by using a polyethylene glycol (PEG) assisted sol–gel method. The structure and the stoichiometry of films deposited by dip coating on glass substrates have been studied as a function of thermal annealing by XRD, FTIR and l-Raman. PEGcontaining samples show improved electrochromic efficiency due to the formation of sub-stoichiometric, nanocrystalline phases. The electrochromic performance of WO3 films gets worse for annealing temperatures higher than 300C due to massive Na absorption from the substrate

Sol-gel nanocrystalline brookite-rich titania films

Brookite-rich titanium dioxide films have been prepared for the first time by a sol–gel method by using together diethanolamine (DEA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as modulators. The brookite phase was found preponderant only in films heated slowly to 600 °C when some of the crystals grow large enough to form and stabilize this phase. The weight fraction of brookite in the crystalline phase was found by the analysis of XRD data to be around 70%. The presence of an important amount of brookite in the annealed TiO2 coating was also confirmed by the strong feature at 150 cm-1 in the Raman spectrum. The results obtained in this work confirm the strong dependence of the phase stability on the size of the crystallite