Surfactant Effect on Formation of CaWO4:Eu3+ Crystals with Distinguished Morphologies in Hydrothermal Ambient

Metal tungstates, expressed by the general formula of MWO4, have important properties and applications in photoluminescence, microwave applications, optical fibers, scintillator materials, humidity sensors, magnetic properties, and catalysts. In this paper, we report a successful synthesis of CaWO4:Eul+ crystals with various morphologies in mild hydrothermal conditions with surfacntant including sodium citrate, CTAB, PEG and citrate acid (CA). The formation of the crystals are strongly dependent on the employment of surfactant. The surfactant concentration has been found significant influence in the resulting morphologies due to different properties of each one. Extensive characterization have been performed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) in search of the formation mechanism of multi-morphological CaWO4:Eu3+ crystals. The growth mechanism of monodispersed CaWO4:EuS+ crystal are proposed. And the photoluminescence properties were investigated.