In situ total scattering study to reveal and control the early stages of tungsten oxide nanoparticle formation

The synthesis of new materials is largely based on trial-and-error studies and qualified guessing as we as chemist still lack an understanding of the fundamental chemistry behind the nucleation and formation of solid-state phases. Over the last decade, attention has come to the ionic and molecular species present prior to nucleation and the role they play in the formation of the solid material. In the proposed experiment we want to systematically investigate how the atomic structure of precursor and prenucleation clusters influences the formation mechanism in hydrothermal synthesis of tungsten oxide nanoparticles. By using in situ Pair Distribution Function analysis, we will track the changes in the atomic structure before and after nucleation and map this relation. The atomic structure before nucleation can be controlled by adjusting the pH of the solution.