Modifications in the structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline CaWO4 induced by 8 MeV electron beam irradiation

•Calcium tungstate nanocrystals are synthesized by simple chemical precipitation method.•Electron beam induced modifications in the structural and optical properties are investigated.•New photoluminescence behaviour is evidenced due to beam irradiation.

In this article we report the post irradiation effects in the structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline calcium tungstate synthesized by chemical precipitation and heat treatment. The samples were subjected to different doses of high-energy electron beam obtained from an 8 MeV Microton. Investigations using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectra confirmed changes in particle size and structural parameters. However, no phase change was detected for irradiated samples. The stretching/compressive strain caused by high energy electrons is responsible for the slight shift in the XRD peaks of irradiated samples. Modifications in the morphology of different samples were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Ultraviolet-visible absorption studies showed variations in the optical band gap (4.08–4.25 eV) upon electron-beam irradiation. New photoluminescence behaviour in electron beam irradiated nanocrystalline CaWO4 was evidenced. A blue shift of the PL peak with increase in intensity was observed in all the irradiated samples.