Room-temperature aqueous synthesis of highly luminescent BaWO4-polymer nanohybrids and their spontaneous conversion to hexagonal WO3 nanosheets

Enhanced green luminescence is seen in barium tungstate-poly(acrylic acid). This nanohybrid spontaneously forms into h-WO3 nanosheets through a bottom-up approach in aqueous solution around room temperature (see figure). The coordination of electrolytes to the inorganic species can lead to the morphological evolution of crystals and can control the modification of the chemical structure relevant to various optical and magnetic properties.