Shape-controlled electrochemical synthesis of SrWO4 crystallites and their optical properties

SrWO4 crystallites with various morphologies were synthesized simply by adjusting electrolyte composition in an electrochemical-assisted precipitation process. The structure and morphology characterization of the products were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Results indicate that spindle-like, pillar-/needle-like and flower-like SrWO4 crystallites with scheelite structure can be obtained by respectively introducing ethylene glycol (DEG), ethanol (EG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG400) into the electrolyte. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) adsorption spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra have shown that the optical properties of the products are greatly influenced by their morphologies. SrWO4 flowers exhibit the strongest absorption ability in UV region and the weakest photoluminescence intensity centered at about 475 nm.