Synthesis of WO3 nanoparticles using a biopolymer as a template for electrocatalytic hydrogenevolution

Abstract

Tungsten trioxide nanoparticles were prepared by a simple approach usingchitosan biopolymer as a template. These nanoparticles were characterizedusing x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopyand high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The average size of theWO3 nanoparticles is 42 nm, and they intercalate a larger amount of hydrogen thantungsten trioxide, which is prepared without chitosan. The materials are testedfor their electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution in a sulfuric acid medium, whereWO3 nanoparticles show a fourfold higher activity than bulk tungsten trioxide.