Preparation, crystallization and properties of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles

Bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6)-sodium polyacrylate (PAANa) latex particles were prepared by inverse miniemulsion and hydrothermal treatment. The effects of Bi(NO3)3/Na2WO4 dosage ratio and different hydrothermal treatment conditions on the particle size and morphology of Bi2WO6-PAANa latex particles were studied. The results show that the stability of the inverse microemulsion droplets was effectively improved with the increase of the soluble salt in the inverse microemulsion system, and the effect of different hydrothermal treatment on the particle size of the colloidal particles was not significant. During the formation of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles, PAANa latex particles could become a reaction site for forming Bi2WO6 nanoparticles, and Bi2WO6 nanoparticles were dispersed in the polymer. The effects of different hydrothermal treatment conditions on the size, crystal form and light absorption properties of Bi2WO6 nanocrystals were studied. The results show that Bi2WO6 nanoparticles with orthorhombic tungsten-rhenium ore structure could be prepared under different hydrothermal treatment conditions; moreover, the temperature at which the hydrothermal treatment forms the lowest Bi2WO6 nanocrystals was 130 °C. But at pH 9, the product was no longer pure phase. The prepared nanocrystals simultaneously exhibited strong ultraviolet-visible absorption characteristics and luminescence intensity. Finally, the Bi2WO6 nanoparticles with photoluminescence properties could be successfully prepared by the inverse miniemulsion method.