A series of novel transition metal
ion-substituted Zn1–x
A
x
WO4 (A =
Co, Mn, and Fe, 0 < x ≤ 0.1) inorganic
pigments with blue, yellow, brown, and pale green colors have been
prepared by a solution combustion method and exhibit extremely high
near-infrared reflectance (R > 85%). X-ray energy-dispersive
spectroscopy analysis makes it clear that transition metal ions have
already been incorporated into the host ZnWO4 lattice and
do not change the lattice’s initial wolframite structure. The
optical absorption spectrum in the UV region of the ZnWO4 pigment calcined at 800 °C for 3 h is a ligand-to-metal charge
transfer from O 2p nonbonding orbits to antibonding W 5d orbits. On
account of the doping Co2+ (3d7), Mn2+ (3d5), and Fe3+ (3d5) transition
metal ions, these chromophore ions have occupied the distorted octahedral
site of Zn2+, leading to d–d transition and metal-to-metal
charge transfer from the occupied 3d orbits of A2+ to unoccupied
W 5d orbits in UV and visible ranges and generating some bright colors.
Significantly, these inorganic pigments are also endowed with excellent
thermal and chemical stability and are conducive to harsh working
conditions. All of the analysis results have offered some design strategies
for various colorful inorganic pigments with high near-infrared reflectance.