Preparation and magnetic properties of CoWO4 nanocrystals

Cobalt tungstate (CoWO4) nanocrystals with an average size of 2050 nm were synthesized via a template- or surfactant-free hydrothermal route. The crystal structure and morphology of the as-synthesized CoWO4 sample were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Magnetic measurements on the as-synthesized CoWO4 nanocrystals indicate a Neel temperature (TN) of similar to 40 K. This lower TN may be a result of the nanostructured particles that reduce the exchange coupling. The new synthetic route presented in this paper has potential applications to fabricate other metal tungstates (MWO4) materials.