The dual-wavelength excitation photochromic behavior of organic induced MoO3 powders synthesized via a hydrothermal route

Production of molybdenum oxide materials with dual-wavelength excitation photochromism which could be motivated by UV and visual light is attractive. Here, we have successfully synthesized the novel dual-wavelength excitation photochromic molybdenum oxide (MoO3) powders with organic inducers. The variety and amount of organic inducers have great impact on the final product morphologies. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BET nitrogen physisorption apparatus, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis), and color difference meter. The XRD spectrums of samples demonstrate that the as-obtained products are pure hexagonal phase. The non-induced MoO3 powders present to be neat hexagonal prisms while the induced MoO3 powders possess flower-like and yuba-like structures. In addition, we found that sample S3 got the optimized photochromic property. This could be attributed to the enhanced light harvesting from multiple light reflections and scattering in-between the cavities on the surface of spheroidal-flower structure. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.