Fabrication of lead tungstate microcrystals on a lead surface at room temperature

A new strategy has been successfully designed to synthesize lead tungstate (PbWO4) microcrystals on a lead surface by employing a novel solution-phase approach at room temperature. This method consists of a liquid-solid reaction between Na2WO4 solution and lead substrate itself in the assistance of glycine, l-glutamic acid, sodium citrate, or sodium adipic acid, respectively. The existence of these organic molecules plays an important role in the current synthetic process (serves as a growth promoter and organic structure-directing agent). This approach provides a facile strategy to produce PbWO4 microcrystals on a lead substrate, which may be applicable to the synthesis of other inorganic materials on other metal substrates with various potential applications.