Synthesis and characterization of WS2/SiO2 microfibers

Tungsten disulfide polycrystalline microfibers were successfully synthesized by a process involving electrospinning, calcination, and sulfidation steps. We used an aqueous solution of silicotungstic acid (H4SiW12O40) polyvinyl alcohol as precursors for the synthesis composite fibers needle-less electrospinning technique. The obtained green (av. diam. 460 nm) converted calcination in air to tungsten oxide WO3 with traces SiO2 smaller diameter 335 nm). heat treatment under flowing H2/H2S/N2 stream led conversion WS2 retention fibrous morphology 196 Characterization intermediate final was performed XRD, SEM, TEM, HAADF STEM EDS, elemental analyses ICP-OES, IR spectroscopy methods.