Scheelite-type MWO4 (M = Ca, Sr, and Ba) nanophosphors: Facile synthesis, structural characterization, photoluminescence, and photocatalytic properties

• Scheelite-type MWO4 nanphosphors were synthesized by wet chemical approach.
• CIE chromaticity diagram reveals that these nanophosphors emit intense blue luminescence.
• Under UV illumination, we achieved 100% MB dye degradation over BaWO4 nanocatalysts within 60 min.
• MWO4 can be useful in removing industrial pollutants and fabricating blue component in white LEDs.

Scheelite-type MWO4 (M = Ca, Sr, and Ba) nanophosphors were synthesized by the precipitation method. All compounds crystallized in the tetragonal structure with space group I41/a (No. 88). Scherrer’s and TEM results revealed that the average crystallite size varies from 32 to 55 nm. FE-SEM illustrate the spherical (CaWO4), bouquet (SrWO4), and fish (BaWO4) like morphologies. PL spectra indicate the broad emission peak maximum at 436 (CaWO4), 440 (SrWO4), and 433 nm (BaWO4) under UV excitation. The calculated CIE color coordinates of MWO4 nanophosphors are close to the commercial BAM and National Television System Committee blue phosphor. The photocatalytic activities of MWO4 were investigated for the degradation of methylene blue dye under UV illumination. At pH 3, BaWO4 nanocatalyst showed 100% dye degradation within 60 min. The photocatalytic activity was in the decreasing order of BaWO4 > CaWO4 > SrWO4 under both neutral and acidic conditions.

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