CdWO₄ nanorods and nanowires were synthesized hydrothermally at 180 ℃ for 16 h in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) surfacant, using Na₂WO₄•2H₂O and CdCl₂ as main materials. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Luminescent properties of the samples were measured at room temperature. The results showed that CdWO₄ nanorods exhibit single crystalline nature with the average diameter of 63 nm and length up to 1 µm. While CdWO₄ nanowires exhibit polycrystalline nature with the average diameter of 12 nm and length up to several micrometers. Both of them display a very strong PL peak at 460 nm with the excitation wavelength 253 nm. The PL intensity of CdWO₄ nanorods is larger than that of CdWO₄ nanowires. The possible formation mechanism of CdWO₄ nanorods and nanowires was suggested.

Key words: CdWO₄, synthesis, surfactant, nanorod and nanowire