Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria
2
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal Polytechnic, PMB 50, Ilaro, Nigeria
3
Department of Chemistry, Nile University of Nigeria, Plot 681, Cadastral Zone C-OO, Research & Institution Area, Jabi Airport Bypass, Abuja, FCT 900001, Nigeria
4
Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Taraba State University, PMB 1167, Jalingo, Nigeria
5
Department of Sustainable Forest Management, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5054, Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) provide sustainable, tunable media for nanomaterial synthesis. In this work, tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoparticles were prepared via a low-temperature green route using DES (choline chloride:ethylene glycol, 1:2) with varying water fractions to enhance solubility and reaction kinetics. Comprehensive characterization by FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis, SEM, and EDX confirmed the successful formation of WO3 nanostructures with tunable crystallinity, morphology, and surface chemistry. FTIR spectra revealed distinct O-W-O/W-OH vibrational modes, while XRD identified monoclinic crystalline phases. SEM analysis demonstrated a morphology shift from irregular aggregates to sponge-like structures with increasing water content. Optical studies showed strong UV absorption (250-373 nm) and a rapid, reversible photochromic transition from transparent to blue within 5 s of UV exposure, fading back within 20 min under ambient conditions. Antimicrobial assays revealed dose-dependent bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, attributed to reactive oxygen species generation and oxygen-vacancy-mediated redox cycling, with the T1-D90W10 sample exhibiting the highest inhibition. This work establishes DES-water systems as versatile green platforms for fabricating multifunctional WO3 Nanoparticles with synergistic photochromic and antimicrobial properties.
Keywords
Journal of Applied Material Science