Tungsten oxide nanopowders and nanorods prepared by a modified plasma arc gas condensation technique

In the present study, tungsten oxide nanopowders and nanorods were synthesized by a modified plasma arc gas condensation technique. A blowing mixed gas with controllable partial oxygen pressure was introduced into the gas condensation system and tungsten oxide powders in nanoscale can be prepared. The experimental results show that yellow and blue tungsten oxide nanopowders, prepared under an Ar to O2 ratio of 1:1 and 100:1, exhibited a major WO3 and W19O55 phase, respectively. The nanoparticles grow into W5O14-phase nanorods along [001] direction when hydrogen served as the reduction gas.