Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of MWO4 and MMoO4 (M = Ca, Ni) Nano-Powders Using Citrate Complex Precursor

Abstract

Nano-sized MWO4 and MMoO4 (M = Ca, Ni) powders, which have scheelite and wolframite type structure, were successfully synthesized at low temperatures by a modified citrate complex method assisted by microwave irradiation. The citrate complex precursors were heattreated at temperatures from 300 to 600 °C for 3 h. Crystallization of the MWO4 and MMoO4 precursors was detected at 400 °C and completed at a temperature of 500 °C. Most of the MWO4 and MMoO4 powders heat-treated between 300 and 600 °C showed primarily spherical and homogeneous morphology. The average crystallite sizes of MWO4 (M = Ca, Ni) were between 22 and 39 nm, and those for MMoO4 (M = Ca, Ni) were between 19 and 35 nm respectively, showing an ordinary tendency to grow with temperature.