Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Transition Metal Oxide Nanomaterials

Nanostructures of transition metal oxides (NTMOs) have attracted a lot of attention since last decade because of their multifunctional properties. NTMOs are considered to be one of the most fascinating functional materials due to tunable physical and chemical properties with a wide range of applications that include energy storage, energy harvesting, photocatalysis, sensors, electrochromic devices, wastewater treatment, and microelectronics. A variety of synthesis methods have been employed for the synthesis of NTMOs both in the vapor phase and solution phase at higher temperatures and lower temperatures, respectively. Morphology in vapor-phase methods could be controlled by changing the parameters, such as growth temperature, catalyst, substrate, pre- and post-treatments, and oxygen pressure. Morphology in the liquid phase synthesis could be controlled by growth temperature, pressure, time, and reaction medium. NTMOs of WO₃, Fe₂O₃, ZnO, TiO₂, V₂O₅, MnO, NiO, and SnO₂ have been extensively investigated as electrode material for Li-ion batteries, super capacitors, photocatalytic activity solar cells, and nanogenerators.