Controlled synthesis of BaWO4 hierarchical nanostructures by exploiting oriented attachment in the solution of H2O and C2H5OH

Shape-controlled synthesis of BaWO4 hierarchical nanostructures has been successfully achieved by exploiting oriented attachment in a mixture of water and ethanol. A controlled change in the volume ratio of C2H5OH and H2O or the concentration of initial reagents has resulted in the synthesis of products of various morphologies, such as shuttle-like, ellipsoid-like, and flower-like ones. The obtained products are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The altered nucleation and growth rates of primary particles that assembled to the final hierarchical nanostructures through oriented attachment are the main cause of the evolution of their morphologies. The room-temperature photoluminescent intensities of the products strongly depend on their morphology.

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► BaWO4 hierarchial nanostructures can be obtained in the C2H5OH–H2O system.
► The BaWO4 primary particles can be formed rapidly in the C2H5OH–H2O system.
► The primary particles orient attached along <001> for the strong solvent’s polarity.