Evaluation of Structural and Optical Properties of Nanocrystalline Cubic Y2O3 Phase Materials via Combustion Method Using Different Fuels

Abstract

In this work, we have carried out combustion synthesis of nanocrystalline Y2O3 materials using hexamine, polyethylene glycol(200) (PEG(200)), and ethylene glycol (EG) as fuels. In addition, the impact of mechanical stirring of commercial Y2O3 powder with various dilutions of PEG(200) with distilled water as a solvent was also examined. The as-prepared combustion product of the hexamine is significantly different from other fuels (PEG(200) and EG). The annealed combustion products crystallize in the pure cubic Y2O3 phase. The combustion product of PEG(200) reveals a maximum weight loss of ∼46% at 800 °C in the TG curve. The UV–vis-NIR features of different samples show quite interesting results. The Eg values obtained from the Tauc plots are found in the range of 5.48 to 5.71 eV for the different samples. The observed strong FTIR band at 560 ∼ 415 cm−1is owing to the vibrational Y–O bond in the present series samples. The Raman spectra show the highest intensity peak at wavenumber 374 cm−1is owing to the Fg vibrational mode of the Y2O3phase. Agglomerated nature of nanoparticles is seen in the Y2O3 phase samples obtained from EG and hexamine as fuels. The PEG-derived Y2O3 nanomaterials exhibit rather a high reflectance in the NIR region quite comparable to the NIR tendency of the mechanically stirred Y2O3 samples. Thus, the present processed nanocrystalline Y2O3 materials are efficient for solar reflective pigment application in the NIR industry.