Synthesis of Tungsten Trioxide Carbon Dopants

Tungsten trioxide has two main disadvantages as a photocatalyst: the narrow spectral range that can be utilized because of the wide bandgap of tungsten trioxide. And the utilization of photogenerated electrons is relatively low due to the alignment of the conduction band of tungsten trioxide, so that the utilization of photogenerated holes of tungsten trioxide is suppressed. Based on these two drawbacks, the carbon doping technique can further improve the photocatalytic activity of tungsten trioxide.

The synthesis of tungsten trioxide carbon dopants raw materials is of analytical grade, and without purification. The specific steps are: 1g of glucose dissolved in 33 m L of ultrapure water. After stirring and dissolving, 0.43 m L concentrated hydrochloric acid was added to the glucose solution.

The mixed solution into the hydrothermal reactor, placed in a 180 ° C blast oven for hydrothermal reaction 24 hours. After the reaction was over, the autoclave was allowed to cool to room temperature. Afterwards the liquid in the kettle was discarded and 33 ml of dilute nitric acid were added to the kettle. Dilute nitric acid is made of concentrated nitric acid and water by volume ratio of 1: 5. The reactor into a temperature of 130 ° C in a forced air oven, the reaction was carried out for 2 hours. After the final reaction is completed, the reaction mixture is allowed to cool naturally, and the reaction mixture is filtered and stored in a bottle.

The carbonized glucose is treated with nitric acid to give a red carbonaceous solution and trace amounts of insoluble black solids. The synthesized red powdered carbon dopants can be dried out of solution. These red carbon powders are very hygroscopic and soluble in water and alcohol.

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