Novel nanosized lead tungstate (PbWO4) hollow spindles were successfully synthesized, for the first time, via a Pluronic P123- (EO20PO70EO20-) assisted sonochemical process. The triblock copolymer acted as a structure-directing agent and played a key role in the formation of the hollow spindles. An in situ micelle templating mechanism has been proposed for the possible formation mechanism of the hollow nanostructure. The optical properties of the final products were investigated. It is exciting that the as-prepared PbWO4 hollow structure shows extraordinarily high room-temperature photoluminescence intensity compared to the solid structures.

Lead tungstate single crystals with dendritic, flowery and star-like structures have been prepared via a facile, ethylene glycol (EG)-assisted sonochemical method. The concentrations of EG and ultrasound irradiation were found to play crucial roles in the morphology control of the final products. The growth process was investigated by carefully following time-dependent experiments, and the oriented attachment process accompanying Ostwald ripening was proposed for the possible formation mechanism. The optical properties, such as the Raman spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra, of the obtained PbWO(4) crystals were studied.

Sb(III)-doped lead tungstate single crystals with controlled shapes and enhanced green emission have been synthesized via a facile, Pluronic P123 (EO(20)PO(70)EO(20))-assisted, sonochemical method. The surfactant Pluronic P123 was found to play a crucial role in the morphology control of the final products. The growth process was investigated by carefully following time-dependent experiments, and the oriented attachment process accompanying Ostwald ripening was proposed for the possible formation mechanism. The optical properties, such as the Raman spectra and PL spectra, of doped PbWO(4) were studied. Room-temperature photoluminescence of doped PbWO(4) samples with different morphologies at desired Sb doping concentrations showed greatly enhanced luminescence intensity compared to the undoped PbWO(4).