Synthesis and Characterization of Neodymium Oxide in Silica Matrix by Solgel Protocol Method

Abstract

Formation of nanocrystalline rare earth was prepared by solgel route, using tetra-ethoxysilane and Nd (NO3)3 as precursor materials and HCl as a catalyst. The prepared samples were submitted to thermal treatments at temperature 500∘C (5 hours) and 800∘C (10 hours). Structural changes were investigated by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM. At 800∘C (10 hours) resulted in the formation of cubic Nd2O3 nanocrystallites with average size ∼ 20 nm.