Synthesis, characterization and optical activity of La-doped ZnWO4 nanorods by hydrothermal method

•The effect of various La contents doped ZnWO4 samples on phase, morphologies and optical properties was studied.•The undoped and La doped ZnWO4 are monoclinic ZnWO4 nanorods growing along [021] direction.•La3+ doped ZnWO4 is a red shifted UV–visible absorption when comparing to pure ZnWO4. One-dimensional La doped ZnWO4 nanostructures have been synthesized by hydrothermal method. The effect of various La contents doped ZnWO4 samples on phase, morphologies and optical properties was investigated and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman and UV–visible spectroscopy, respectively. The results of XRD, SEM and SAED revealed that all products were one-dimensional monoclinic ZnWO4 nanorods while doped La3+ constants into ZnWO4 lattice. The observation of TEM and HRTEM showed that the obtained La3+ doped ZnWO4 with different La constants were homogenous nanorods shapes with grow along [021] direction. The optical property result showed that La3+ doped ZnWO4 is a red shifted absorption when comparing to pure ZnWO4.