Controlled synthesis and characterization of colloidal SbVO4 nanocrystals by a facile solution-phase method

We present, for the first time, the solution-phase method to controllably prepare SbVO4 nanoparticles having the sizes of 3–5 nm from SbCl3 and NH4VO3 in EtOH–H2O. Several crucial growth parameters, including reaction temperature, initial mole ratio, and solution acidity, were investigated carefully. SbVO4 nanoparticles could be readily prepared in the initial 1:1 mole ratio of SbCl3 to NH4VO3 above 120 °C. In particular, the unexpected Sb1.92V0.08O3.67 and Sb2O3 were prepared selectively under highly basic conditions in the SbCl3-to-NaOH mole ratios of 1:6 and 1:14, respectively, in the constant SbCl3-to-NH4VO3 mole ratio (1:1).