Crystal Phase Tuning and Electrochemical Properties of WO3/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites: Impact of pH and Organic Acids
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST2613113Keywords:
WO3/graphene oxide composites, hydrothermal synthesis, structure-directing agents, electrochemical stability, cyclic voltammetryAbstract
WO3/graphene oxide (GO) composites were synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal method using citric acid (CA) or oxalic acid (OA) as structure-directing agents at precisely controlled pH values (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0). While WO3/GO composites have been previously reported, this work systematically investigates the synergistic effect of organic acid coordination chemistry (tridentate CA vs. bidentate OA) and pH on the crystalline phase, interfacial interaction, and electrochemical stability of the composites. XRD confirmed pH-dependent phase formation (hexagonal at pH ≥ 1.5, monoclinic at pH 1.0) and revealed strong WO3–GO interactions through peak broadening and crystallite size modulation. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy indicated acid-dependent interfacial bonding, with CA promoting stronger interaction with GO functionalities. Electrochemically, the WO3/OA/GO composite at pH 1.5 exhibited excellent charge retention (87% over 50 cycles), while WO3/CA/GO at the same pH showed a 260% increase in charge capacity, indicating electrochemical activation during cycling. These results demonstrate that fine-tuning synthesis conditions (acid type + pH) enables precise control over composite structure and performance, offering a rational strategy for designing advanced WO3-based materials for energy storage and electrochromic applications.
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