Polymorph and Phase Discrimination of Lead Chromate Pigments by a Facile Room Temperature Precipitation Reaction

Monoclinic and orthorhombic PbCrO4, Pb2CrO5, and K2Pb(CrO4)2 nanocrystallites with different shapes can be selectively synthesized by a room temperature solution reaction without adding any additives. The results demonstrated that the manipulation of pH value and the molar ratio of Pb(Ac)2 and K2CrO4 can effectively affect the formation of polymorphs and phases. This facile room temperature approach provides a useful route for the selective synthesis of lead chromate pigments with different phases and polymorphs, a method which could be extended for other inorganic systems.