Effect of partial preferential orientation and distortions in octahedral clusters on the photoluminescence properties of FeWO4 nanocrystals

Abstract

This communication is a report of our initial research to obtain iron tungstate (FeWO₄) nanocrystals by the microwave-hydrothermal method at 170 °C for 45 min. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the FeWO₄ nanocrystals prepared with polyethylene glycol-200 have a partial preferential orientation in the (011) plane in relation to other nanocrystals prepared with sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate and water. Rietveld refinement data indicates that all nanocrystals are monophasic with wolframite-type monoclinic structures and exhibit different distortions on octahedral [FeO₆]/[WO₆] clusters. High resolution transmission electron microcopy revealed an oriented attachment mechanism for the growth of aggregated FeWO₄ nanocrystals. Finally, we observed that the photoluminescence properties of these nanocrystals are affected by partial preferential orientation in the (011) plane and distortions on [FeO₆]/[WO₆] clusters.