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Electrochemical and optical comparison of Cr3+, Co2+, Ag1+, Hg1+ and Pb4+ doped WO3 as a thin layer working electrode for electrochemical sensing

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Abstract

Tungsten oxide (WO3) is a well-known transition metal oxide that demonstrates stability and non-toxicity in its nanoparticle form. Because of its facile and cost-effective synthesis method, it is a promising candidate for several applications like electrochromic devices, photo catalysts and gas sensors. In the present work, WO3 nanoparticles were synthesized through a one-step hydrothermal process. Subsequently, the pure WO3 sample underwent do** with different materials, including Cr+ 3, Co+ 2, Ag+ 1, Hg+ 1 and Pb+ 4. The crystallographic properties and phase transitions of the crystalline substances were demonstrated by the structural characterisation of all the as-synthesised materials using the X-ray diffraction technique. The optical properties were explored by UV-visible spectroscopy, revealing the energy band gap from 2.53 eV to 3.75 eV. Field Emission Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images depicted the morphological features of the material. The pure WO3 exhibited a 2D nanosheet structure, while the doped materials displayed morphologies ranging from nanosheets or nanorods to polyhedral sheets. Microstructural analysis by TEM revealed particle size for all samples along with fringes and SAED pattern confirming the presence of respective planes. The electrochemical properties of the synthesized samples were investigated using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) techniques. This research delves into exploring the electrochemical sensing potential of tungsten oxide doped with chromium, cobalt, silver, mercury, and lead as thin layer working electrodes, driven by the pressing need for advancements in sensing technologies. Through a comprehensive investigation of their electrochemical and optical characteristics, this study aims to discern their suitability for sensing applications, providing insights crucial for future sensor design and synthesis.

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Acknowledgements

Author’s would like to thank vice chancellor of NSUT, Prof. Anand Srivastava for financial support.

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  1. Research Lab for Energy System, Department of Physics, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, New Delhi, 110078, India

    Tamanna **dal, Peeyush Phogat,  Shreya, Sukhvir Singh & Ranjana Jha

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  1. Tamanna **dal
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  2. Peeyush Phogat
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Contributions

Tamanna **dal: Conceptualization, Writing - original draft, Peeyush Phogat: Formal analysis Writing-review and editing. Shreya: Formal analysis and software. Ranjana Jha: Supervision. Sukhvir Singh: Supervision.

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Correspondence to Peeyush Phogat.

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**dal, T., Phogat, P., Shreya et al. Electrochemical and optical comparison of Cr3+, Co2+, Ag1+, Hg1+ and Pb4+ doped WO3 as a thin layer working electrode for electrochemical sensing. Appl. Phys. A 130, 512 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-024-07666-6

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