Morphology-controlled synthesis of BaWO₄ nanocrystals via a surfactant-assisted method

BaWO₄ nanocrystals with various morphologies have been successfully synthesized via a surfactant-assisted method. The products were characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic surfactant dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid sodium salt (DBSS) had important influence on the formation of the BaWO₄ particles and could lead to different morphologies of the resultant of BaWO₄ crystallines. Two different crystal growth mechanisms, the aggregation process and Ostwald ripening process, were held responsible for the formation of the BaWO₄ nanostructures.