Abstract
Here we investigate the structure, photophysics, and photocatalytic water splitting properties of single-crystalline WO3 nanosheets (0.75 nm × 90 ± 38 nm), obtained by exfoliation from Bi2W2O9. Upon delamination, the nanosheets undergo a structural change from tetragonal symmetry in the parent material to monoclinic, as confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Diffuse reflectance optical spectra show band gap energies consistent with quantum confinement in nano-WO3 (EG = 2.88 eV) and Bi2W2O9(EG = 2.81 eV), relative to bulk WO3 (EG = 2.68 eV). Surface photovoltage measurements on nano-WO3 films on a F:SnO2 substrate demonstrate photochemical carrier formation under band gap excitation and irreversible trapping of holes. Photochemical oxygen formation is observed with 50 mg of the material in aqueous AgNO3 and (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 solutions under full spectrum (>250 nm) or visible only (>400 nm) irradiation. The highest initial O2 evolution rates (69.7 μmol h–1 for bulk and 35.5 μmol h–1 for...
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