Multi-phase equilibrium microemulsions-based routes to synthesize nanoscale BaWO4 spheres, cylinders and rods

This article presents the multi-phase equilibrium microemulsions-based routes to synthesize BaWO4 nanospheres, nanocylinders and nanorods. Unlike reverse micelles or single-phase W/O microemulsions, middle-phase microemulsions equilibrated with residual water or residual oil phase, having the properties of facile, mild and effective, are easily prepared by any traditional surfactants under the existence of cosurfactants. Our investigations demonstrated that the middle-phase microemulsions instantaneously provide a simple and versatile reaction media, i.e., upper-phase W/O and bicontinuous (B.C.) structured equilibrium microemulsions could be used to generate nanoscale inorganic materials with different morphologies, such as BaWO4.