Kinetic characteristics of enhanced photochromism in tungsten oxide nanocolloid adsorbed on cellulose substrates, studied by total internal reflection Raman spectroscopy

The nanostructured tungsten(VI) oxide (WO3)/cellulose derivatives (cellulose (CE) and triacetyl cellulose (TACE)) hybrid films were prepared by a solution-dipping adsorption process, and their structure and optical properties have been investigated. Various techniques, including adsorption isotherm, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), in situ UV-Vis absorption, and in situ total internal reflection Raman spectroscopy, were used for the characterization of the WO3/CE and WO3/TACE hybrid materials. Under UV irradiation, the photochromism (colorless -> blue) was confirmed from the WO3/CE hybrid film, although no coloration of the WO3/TACE hybrid film was observed. This distinct difference in the coloration suggested that the interfacial interaction between hydroxyl groups present on the surface of the CE substrate and WO3 nanoparticles via hydrogen bonding plays a major role in the enhancement of photochromism in the WO3/CE hybrid system. Moreover, the joint evidence in in situ UV-Vis absorption and in situ total internal reflection Raman studies clearly revealed that the photogenerated coloration is related to a partial reduction of W6+ cations into W5+ cations in the WO3/CE hybrid film. The findings in this study have great implications for the development of the novel green-functional inorganic/organic hybrid materials in optical devices.