Template-Free Synthesis and Assembly of Single-Crystalline Tungsten Oxide Nanowires and their Gas-Sensing Properties

A nonaqueous approach that involves the reaction of tungsten isopropoxide with benzyl alcohol leads to tungsten oxide nanowire bundles without the use of any additional structure-directing templates. The bundles consist of crystalline nanowires with highly uniform diameters of about 1 nm and aspect ratios exceeding 500 (see picture). Gas-sensing tests show a high sensitivity to NO2