Crystallite Nanosize Effect on the Structural Transitions of WO3 Studied by Raman Spectroscopy

Nanocrystallites of tungsten oxide samples of 2, 4, 16, 35 and 60 nm of diameter were prepared by cryosol and pyrosol techniques. The pressure- and temperature-induced phase transitions of these samples were monitored by Raman spectrometry from 0.1 MPa to 34 GPa and from 77 to 1200 K. The tetragonal (α)–orthorhombic (β)–monoclinic (γ) transitions in these nanometric samples are strongly downshifted in temperature by comparison with the bulk WO3. For instance, the tetragonal phase which exists above 1171 K for the bulk tungsten oxide can be stabilized at 700 K for the 35 nm sample. In the same way, the monoclinic P21/n-monoclinic P21/c high-pressure-induced transition is slightly shifted from 0.1 GPa to a higher pressure (1.5 GPa). The discussion of these transition-line shifts is based on thermodynamic considerations in which the surface energy of crystallites plays an important role.