The intrinsic properties of scheelite–structured oxide materials with the formula ABO<sub>4</sub> (A = Ca, Sr, Ba; B = Mo, W) make them highly useful in the areas of energy conversion (cryogenic phonon scintillation detectors and solid state phosphor hosts) and storage (anode materials for lithium ion batteries). Previously, these materials have been synthesized using solid state and hydrothermal techniques, among others, which are often energy intensive and require contaminating mineralizers, or further processing via high temperature, post-synthetic calcination treatments to achieve a crystalline product. As an alternative, we have developed a novel vapor diffusion sol–gel (VDSG) technique, which provides a benign (atmospheric pressure, low temperature, mineralizer–free, and neutral pH) synthetic pathway to sub–30 nm nanocrystals. Gas–liquid rather than liquid–liquid hydrolysis affords kinetic control over the preparation of a compositionally diverse set of metal oxide nanocrystals. Recently, our group has exploited the VDSG technique to generate ABO<sub>4</sub> type scheelite–structured nanocrystals and solid solutions thereof, thereby exemplifying a practical, low energy approach to the production of compositionally complex, sub–30 nm scheelite–structured oxides for energy conversion and storage applications.

Low-temperature synthesis of compositionally complex scheelite-structured nanocrystals

249th National Meeting (2015)

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