Incorporation of 12-Tungstophosphoric acid in Titania spheres and fabrication of core-shell Polyoxotungstate/Titania nanostructures

Abstract

Core-shell 12-tungstophosphoric acid/TiO₂ (HPW/TiO₂) nanoparticles at 10 and 20% of HPW have been synthesized by simple in-situ sol- gel method. Characterization of the samples was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The X-ray diffraction patterns of as prepared solid samples, indicated characteristic peaks of titania with additional peaks concerning to HPW in a very low intensities. This result in addition to the FTIR and SEM - EDX analysis data confirmed incorporation of HPW / TiO₂ nanostructure in spherical morphology with a particle size of around 25 nm.