Core-Shell Engineered WO3 Architectures: Recent Advances from Design to Applications.

Abstract

Ongoing efforts to design novel materials with efficient structure-property-performance relations prove challenging. Core-shell structures have emerged as novel materials with controlled production routes and highly tailorable properties that offer extensive advantages in advanced oxidation processing, particularly in photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical applications. WO3 , which is an optoelectronically active semiconductor material, is a popular material in current studies in the field of photo(electro)catalysis. Considerable progress has been made using core-shell WO3 architectures, which warrants an evaluation in terms of processing and preparedness for their use in versatile catalytic and energy storage applications. This paper presents an in-depth assessment of core-shell WO3 architectures by highlighting the design challenges and protocols in powder and thin-film chemical processing. The development of specific core-shell designs for use in targeted applications, such as H2 production, CO2 reduction, wastewater treatment, batteries, supercapacitors, and sensing, is analyzed. The fundamental role of WO3 in core-shell structures to enhance efficiency is also discussed, along with the limitations and improvement strategies. Further, the prospects of core-shell WO3 architectures in energy conversion and environmental applications are suggested.