WO3 nanoplates, hierarchical flower-like assemblies and their photocatalytic properties

Monoclinic WO3 was prepared by a hydrothermal reaction of PbWO4 in the presence of HNO3. WO3 rectangular nanoplates with a side length of 50–150 nm and a thickness of about 25 nm were obtained at 4 M HNO3 solution. And the single crystal nature was confirmed by the selected area electron diffraction. Whereas WO3 hierarchical flower-like assemblies with 3–5 μm in diameter were self-organized by nanoplates in the presence of 15 M HNO3 solution. Compared with commercial WO3 particles, our products showed an enhancement of photocatalytic properties for the degradation of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation.