Quantification of the synergetic contribution of a buried WO
<sub>3</sub>
/TiO
<sub>2</sub>
heterojunction to photocatalytic activity
<sub>3</sub>
/TiO
<sub>2</sub>
heterojunction to photocatalytic activity
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The tungsten trioxide/titanium dioxide (WO3/TiO2) heterojunction is archetypical in photocatalysis, with
demonstrated synergetic properties despite some controversy around the predominant band model in these
systems. The current work is a systematic study that quantified the synergetic contribution of the WO3/TiO2
heterojunction to the enhancement of photocatalytic activity over the contribution of the TiO2 coating in core
shell nanostructures. The films were produced from atomic layer deposition and chemical vapour deposition
techniques and their photocatalytic activity was correlated with transient adsorption properties upon TiO2
coating thickness. The study allowed to identify an optimum thickness range within 21–40 nm, showing the
greatest contribution of the heterojunction for a TiO2 thickness of 30 nm. The outputs of this research have
strong implications to heterojunction materials design for practical applications.
demonstrated synergetic properties despite some controversy around the predominant band model in these
systems. The current work is a systematic study that quantified the synergetic contribution of the WO3/TiO2
heterojunction to the enhancement of photocatalytic activity over the contribution of the TiO2 coating in core
shell nanostructures. The films were produced from atomic layer deposition and chemical vapour deposition
techniques and their photocatalytic activity was correlated with transient adsorption properties upon TiO2
coating thickness. The study allowed to identify an optimum thickness range within 21–40 nm, showing the
greatest contribution of the heterojunction for a TiO2 thickness of 30 nm. The outputs of this research have
strong implications to heterojunction materials design for practical applications.
Date Issued
2026-05-05
Date Acceptance
2026-02-23
Citation
Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers, 2026, 13 (9), pp.3888-3900
ISSN
2052-1545
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
3888
End Page
3900
Journal / Book Title
Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers
Volume
13
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry on behalf of the Partner Organisations This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.
License URL
Identifier
10.1039/d5qi02269j
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2026-02-26