Phase changes during heat treatment of electrodeposited WO₃, MoO₃ and V₂O₅

Abstract

Many transition metal oxides have been studied in the last two decades. By an appropriate chemical or electrical means, ions can be inserted into the structure of these oxides with minimal structural changes. This process known as coloration can easily be reversed. This reversible mechanism is of particular interest in applications such as battery and fuel cell electrodes, chemical sensors, electrochromic displays and catalysts.In this study, films of three transition metal oxides (WO3, MoO3, V2O5) were prepared by electrodeposition. The morphology and the structure of these films were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in their as-deposited states and after heat treatment in ambient air up to 500°C. Previous measurements made by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed exothermic peaks corresponding to phase changes. The temperature values determined at those peaks were then chosen as specific treatment temperatures.