Formation of one-dimensional nanostructured WO x /W composites

The synthesis of nanowhiskers (NW) of WOx/W composites has been performed on a nickel substrate in flow of WO2(OH)2 vapor and CO and Ar gases at temperatures of 850–1000°C. Individual and bundled NWs grow in the form of nanorods at an angle to the substrate surface. Their length (5–30 µm) and diameter (100–300 nm) depend on the synthesis temperature conditions. The presence of an oxide film WOx of variable stoichiometric composition (x = 2.72–3) on the surface of tungsten NWs has been revealed using transmission and atomic force microscopy (TEM and AFM): the thickness of the oxide layer reaches 5 nm.