Microstructure tailoring of tungsten oxide for enhanced properties by varying sintering temperatures

Tungsten oxide (WO3) pellets were prepared using a hydraulic press and then sintered at temperatures between 900 and 1200 °C for 2 h. The as-prepared as well as the sintered pellets confirmed the presence of a single phase of WO3, having a monoclinic structure with increase in grain size and the variation in the morphology. The sintered density reached up to 97% of the theoretical value. The optical parameters and the I-V characteristics were found to be greatly dependent on the sintering temperature. This work delineates a strategy towards developing tungsten oxide pellets with enhanced properties especially focused on sensing applications.