Crystal growth, structures, and optical properties of the cubic double perovskites Ba2MgWO6 and Ba2ZnWO6

Single crystals of the tungstates Ba2MgWO6 and Ba2ZnWO6 have been grown for the first time. The crystals were prepared with molten potassium carbonate acting as a flux. According to the single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure determination, the compounds crystallize in space group Fm3¯m of the cubic system with a double perovskite structure, A2BB′O6. These structural findings were confirmed with neutron diffraction on polycrystalline samples synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state route. Both sets of diffraction data reveal that the M2+ and W6+ cations are fully ordered on the B and B′ sites. Ba2MgWO6 and Ba2ZnWO6 exhibit room-temperature luminescence with green and yellow emissions, respectively.

Graphical abstractBa2MgWO6 and Ba2ZnWO6 adopt the cubic double perovskite structure. Both compounds luminesce under UV irradiation, with green and yellow emissions, respectively.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Ba2MgWO6 and Ba2ZnWO6 were grown as single crystals for the first time. ► The structures were studied by single-crystal X-ray and powder neutron diffraction. ► These compounds crystallize in space group Fm3¯m with the cubic double perovskite structure. ► Ba2MgWO6 and Ba2ZnWO6 exhibit room-temperature luminescence, with green and yellow emissions, respectively.