Structure and Photoluminescence of WO Aggregates Tuned by Surfactants.

The optoelectronic properties of transition metal oxide semiconductors depend on their oxygen vacancies, nanostructures and aggregation states. Here, we report the synthesis and photoluminescence (PL) properties of substoichiometric tungsten oxide (WO) aggregates with the nanorods, nanoflakes, submicro-spherical-like, submicro-spherical and micro-spherical structures in the acetic acid solution without and with the special surfactants (butyric or oleic acids). Based on theory on the osmotic potential of polymers, we demonstrate the structural change of the WO aggregates, which is related to the change of steric repulsion caused by the surfactant layers, adsorption and deformation of the surfactant molecules on the WO nanocrystals.