In Situ Probing of the Particle-Mediated Mechanism of WO3 -Networked Structures Grown inside Confined Mesoporous Channels

Abstract

Nanocasting, using ordered mesoporous silica or carbon as a hard template, has enormous potential for preparing novel mesoporous materials with new structures and compositions. Although a variety of mesoporous materials have been synthesized in recent years, the growth mechanism of nanostructures in a confined space, such as mesoporous channels, is not well understood, which hampers the controlled synthesis and further application of mesoporous materials. Here, the nucleation and growth of WO₃ -networked mesostructures within an ordered mesoporous matrix, using an in situ transmission electron microscopy heating technique and in situ synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering spectroscopy, are probed. It is found that the formation of WO₃ mesostructures involves a particle-mediated transformation and coalescence mechanism. The liquid-like particle-mediated aggregation and mesoscale transformation process can occur in ≈10 nm confined mesoporous channels, which is completely unexpected. The detailed mechanistic study will be of great help for experimental design and to exploit a variety of mesoporous materials for diverse applications, such as catalysis, absorption, separation, energy storage, biomedicine, and nanooptics.

Keywords: confined spaces; in situ transmission electron microscopy; oriented attachment; particle-mediated mechanisms; small-angle X-ray scattering spectroscopy.