Influence of capping agents additives on morphology of cadmium tungstate nanoparticles and study of their photocatalytic properties

Abstract

In this investigation, a facile precipitation route has been developed for the preparation of cadmium tungstate (CdWO4) nanoparticles by using cadmium nitrate hexahydrate and sodium tungstate dehydrate as cadmium and vanadate precursor, respectively. The effect of different capping agents such as glycine, valine, and alanine on the morphology and particle size of the products has been investigated. Facile preparation and separation are important features of this route. This work has provided a general, simple, and effective method to control the composition and morphology of cadmium tungstate in aqueous solution, which will be important for inorganic synthesis methodology. The morphology and particle size of products were investigated by scanning electron microscopy images, X-ray diffraction patterns, ultraviolet–visible and electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectroscopy. The photocatalytic characteristics of as-obtained nanocrystalline cadmium tungstate were also examined by degradation of methyl orange dye as water contaminant.