“…As a result, subsequent annealing is needed to convert the precursor into the targeted ARE(WO 4 ) 2 :Ln compound (A = Na and K; RE = La, Y, Gd, and Lu; Ln = Eu 3+ , Tb 3+ , Sm 3+ , Dy 3+ , and Sm 3+ /Nd 3+ ; etc. ). ,,, This is primarily due to the rich solution chemistry of tungstate anions, which present themselves as monomeric [WO 4 ] 2– in a solution of sufficiently high alkalinity (pH >8), while the various protonated and polymerized forms of [H 18 (WO 4 ) 12 ] 6– , [H 10 (WO 4 ) 6 ] 2– , [H 7 (WO 4 ) 6 ] 5– , and [HWO 4 ] − appear in an acidic or neutral solution (pH 4–7). − Furthermore, the type and concentration of tungstate ions are affected by not only the solution pH but also the temperature, the initial concentration of the tungstate source (such as Na 2 WO 4 ·2H 2 O in this work), and the attendance and concentration of alien anions. On the other hand, RE 3+ undergoes hydration and hydrolysis in an aqueous solution to form [RE(OH) x (H 2 O) y ] 3– x complex ions, whose x value increases with an increase in the solution pH. , Numerous reaction pathways are, therefore, possible under hydrothermal/solvothermal conditions, which, in turn, make the product rather sensitive to the synthesis parameter. ,, It was recently shown that the reactivity of tungstate species toward [RE(OH) x (H 2 O) y ] 3– x decreases with an increase in solution pH, and the hydrothermal product of a higher pH tends to have a lower W/RE molar ratio and vice versa. , The complicated solution chemistry and reaction pathway may account for why most of the studies to date left the hydrothermal/solvothermal precursors unanalyzed for chemical composition, phase purity, phase constituent, and phase structure.…”