Web Release Date: October 26,
WO3-x Nanorods Synthesized on a Thermal Hot Plate
and
Department of Physics, BLK S12, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117542, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, and National University of Singapore Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117542
Received: June 13, 2007
In Final Form: September 12, 2007
Abstract:
A simple thermal vapor deposition technique to synthesize crystalline tungsten oxide nanorods in ambient
condition is presented. Using a commercial thermal hot plate, a pure 99.9% tungsten foil is heated at 485 ±
5 
C under ambient conditions with a piece of 150 
m thick glass cover slide pressing on the tungsten foil.
Single crystalline WO3-x nanorods, with a preferential growth axis in the [001] direction, are found to deposit
on the cover slide facing the heated tungsten foil. The structure, morphology, and composition of the WO3-x
nanorods were characterized using the scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy
dispersive spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. In addition, mechanical properties of
the as-synthesized nanorods were investigated by employing the three-point bend test using an atomic force
microscope. The elastic modulus of the nanorods was found to be in the 10-110 GPa range, and it increases
with decreasing diameter of the nanorods. The tungsten oxide nanorod was also found to be a good field
emitter with a field enhancement factor estimated to be 9.8 × 104 cm-1.
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