Sonochemical synthesis of Dy2(CO3)3 nanoparticles,Dy(OH)3 nanotubes and their conversion to Dy2O3 nanoparticles

Dysprosium carbonates nanoparticles were synthesized by the reaction of dysprosium acetate and NaHCO₃ by a sonochemical method. Dysprosium oxide nanoparticles with average size about 17 nm were prepared from calcination of Dy₂(CO₃)₃·1.7H₂O nanoparticles. Dy(OH)₃ nanotubes were synthesized by sonication of Dy(OAC)₃·6H₂O and N₂H₄. The as-synthesized nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Photoluminescence measurement shows that the nanoparticles have two emission peaks around 17,540 cm^?1 and 20,700 cm^?1, which should come from the electron transition from ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2 levels and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2 levels, respectively. The effect of calcination temperature and sonication time was investigated on the morphology and particle size of the products. The sizes could be controlled by the feeding rate of the precipitating agent (NaHCO₃ and N₂H₄) and slower feeding rate lead to smaller nanoparticles.     

Preparation and characterization of cerium oxide doped TiO2 nanoparticles

A mixed oxide consisting of TiO₂ as the major phase and CeO_2−y (0<y<0.5) as the dopant phase was prepared via the sol-gel reaction of Ti(i-OC₃H₇)₃ in an aqueous solution of Ce(NO₃)₃. The resulting oxide powders with different CeO_2−y contents were all composed of nano-sized spheres. The CeO_2−y phase was identified to have retarding effect on the phase transition from anatase TiO₂ to rutile TiO₂ at calcinations temperature as high as 800 °C, which would otherwise be a thorough conversion. The CeO_2−y-TiO₂ powders could apparently shift the UV-absorption band of TiO₂ toward visible range, and there was an optimal CeO_2−y content in association with the maximum absorbance. This effect is interpreted as the existence of an n-type impurity band, due to the substitution of Ti⁴⁺ for Ce^3+/4+ at the interface between the two oxides, in the gap of TiO₂. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigation, the Ti element mainly existed as the chemical state of Ti⁴⁺ and the Ce oxide doping did not affect the peak position of Ti 2p. The Ce 3d spectrum of CeO_2−y-doped TiO₂ sample basically denotes a mixture of Ce^3+/4+ oxidation states giving rise to a myriad of peaks.     

Physical and optical properties of Li2O-MgO-B2O3 doped with Dy3+

The study on the optical properties of alkali borate glasses doped with rare earths is an interesting area of research. Dysporosium doped lithium magnesium borate glasses were prepared by melt-quenching technique with dysporosium concentration varying from 0.3 to 1.0 mol %. Physical and optical properties of Lithium Magnesium Borate doped with different concentration of Dy³⁺ were observed based on its physical parameters, emission spectra and absorption spectra. The absorption spectra of this study exhibits eight absorption bands with hypersensitive peak at 1260 nm (⁶ H _9/2). Two emitted spectra transitions were also observed at ⁴ F _9/2 → ⁶ H _15/2, ⁴ F _9/2 → ⁶ H _13/2. Lastly, important physical parameters for each concentration of dopant such as density, ions concentration, polaron radius, inter-nuclear distance, refractive index, oscillator strength and other parameters were determined.     

Observation of room temperature ferromagnetism in pure La2O3 nanoparticles

In this paper, we report the observation of intrinsic room temperature ferromagnetism in pure La₂O₃ nanoparticles. Magnetism measurement indicates that all of the samples exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism and the saturation magnetization for the samples decreases with the increase in annealing temperature from 700 to 1,000 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy identifies the presence of oxygen vacancies in the La₂O₃ nanoparticles. The fitting results of the O 1s spectrum indicate that the variation of the oxygen vacancy concentration is in complete agreement with the change of the saturation magnetization. It is also found that the saturation magnetization of the La₂O₃ nanoparticles can be tuned by post-annealing in argon or oxygen atmosphere. These results suggest that the oxygen vacancies are largely responsible for the room temperature ferromagnetism in pure La₂O₃ nanoparticles.     

Synthesis and electrical properties of Y2O3: Dy3+ & Eu3+ nanoparticles

Yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) doped with Dy³⁺ & Eu³⁺ nanoparticle has been synthesized by solution combustion method. The formation of the compounds has been checked by X-ray diffraction method. The crystallite/particle size has been measured using Scherrer formula as well as by transmission electron microscopy which show that the size of the particles are in the nanorange. The frequency and temperature dependent variation of impedance Z*, dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″) and AC conductivity (σ) of Y₂O₃: Dy³⁺ & Eu³⁺ nanoparticles were also measured. The real and imaginary part of complex impedance makes semicircle in the complex plane. The center of semicircle arc is found to be shifted toward higher value of real part of impedance with increasing temperature. This indicates that the conductivity of the material increases with the increase in temperature. Cole–Cole plots demonstrate that the dielectric relaxation process occurs in the material. The AC conductivity (σ _AC) increases with the increase in temperature within the frequency range of 10³–10⁷ Hz confirming the hopping of the electrons in the conduction process. The value of impedance decreases sharply with increasing frequency and attains minimum value after 10⁵ Hz at all temperatures.     

Temperature dependent luminescence of Dy3+ doped BaYF5 nanoparticles for optical thermometry

Dy³⁺ doped BaYF₅ nanoparticles with tetragonal structure were synthesized by hydrothermal method and solvothermal method. The structural and the luminescent properties of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern, TEM and photoluminescence spectra. Emission of Dy³⁺ originated from ⁴I_15/2 located at 450 nm and ⁴F_9/2 located at 478 nm, 573 nm and 660 nm were observed under excitation of 355 nm laser. Behavior of fluorescence intensity ratio with temperature increasing from room temperature to approximately 800 K was investigated. And the optimum temperature range for thermometry is obtained to be 550–800 K according to its sensitivity-temperature relation, indicating the potential application of BaYF₅:Dy³⁺ as a luminescent temperature sensor.     

Malonic acid assisted sol-gel synthesis and characterization of chromium doped LiMn2O4 spinel

Pristine LiMn₂O₄ and LiCr_xMn_2-xO₄ (x=0.01−0.20) have been synthesized by sol-gel method using malonic acid as chelating agent. This technique involves less impurities, shorter heat treatment time, sub-micron sized particles, good surface morphology, better homogeneity, good agglomeration and better crystallinity. The synthesized spinel materials have been characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDAX and electrochemical studies like charge-discharge studies, cyclic voltammogram, cycleability studies have also been carried out. All the results exhibit that chromium substitution improves the structural stability of LiMn₂O₄ spinel upon repeated cycling.     

Co-precipitation synthesis,structural and morphological characterization,and luminescence properties of Dy3+ doped nanocrystal Gd2(WO4)3 and Gd2WO6 phosphors

Nanocrystal Gd₂(WO₄)₃ and Gd₂WO₆ phosphors doped with Dy³⁺ were prepared via co-precipitation method under different reaction conditions. It was found that the nanocrystal Gd₂(WO₄)₃ and Gd₂WO₆ phosphors exist in the monoclinic phase, and the phosphor particles showed sphere-like and uniform shape. The concentration quenching behavior and the dependence of fluorescence lifetime on the doping concentration were studied. It was found that the electric dipole–dipole interaction is the physical mechanism for the energy transfer between Dy³⁺ ions in both the nanocrystal Gd₂(WO₄)₃ and Gd₂WO₆ phosphors.     

Ion synthesis and laser annealing of Cu nanoparticles in Al2O3

Al₂O₃ samples with Cu nanoparticles, synthesised by ion implantation at 40 keV with a dose of 1×10¹⁷ ion/cm² and a current density from 2.5 to 12.5 μA/cm², were annealed using ten pulses from a KrF excimer laser with a single pulse fluence of 0.3 J/cm². The copper depth distribution, formation and modification of metal nanoparticles under the ion implantation and laser treatment were studied by Rutherford backscattering (RBS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical spectroscopy. It was found that laser annealing leads to a reduction in the nanoparticle size without diffusion of metal atoms into the bulk. The change in particle size and the possibility for oxidation of the copper particles are examined in the framework of Mie theory. Calculations presented show that under excimer laser treatment, Cu nanoparticles are more likely to be reduced in size than to undergo oxidation. Received: 19 April 2001 / Accepted: 7 November 2001 / Published online: 23 January 2002     

Size-dependent luminescence in Y2Si2O7 nanoparticles doped with Ce3+ ions

Powders and thin films of nanocrystalline yttrium disilicate (Y₂Si₂O₇) doped with Ce³⁺ have been prepared by a sol–gel method. Structure and morphology of the synthesised samples have been determined and spectroscopic properties compared. The triclinic α-Y₂Si₂O₇ form (space group P 1-) for the powders annealed between 1000°C and 1200°C has been found. A total conversion into a thortveitite-type monoclinic β-Y₂Si₂O₇ polymorph after annealing of powder samples at 1400°C (space group C2/m) has been observed. In the case of films even at 1300°C the basically pure triclinic α-Y₂Si₂O₇ phase was observed with luminescent spectroscopy. The influence of grain size, controlled by thermal treatment, on the structure and luminescence properties of the fabricated materials are presented and discussed.     

Wet and dry etching of Sc2O3

Wet chemical and plasma etch processes were developed for pattering of Sc₂O₃ films on GaN. Chlorine-based plasma chemistries produced a significant chemical enhancement of removal rate over pure Ar sputtering. The etching was anisotropic and did not significantly alter the surface composition of the Sc₂O₃ films. Reaction-limited wet etching in the HNO₃/HCl/HF system was investigated as a function of solution formulation and temperature. The activation energy for the wet etching ranged from 8 to 14 kcal/mol and the etch rates were independent of solution agitation.     

Optical properties of pure and doped Y3Fe5O12 single crystals

Institute of Physics of Solids and Semiconductors, Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 17, P. Brovka Str., GSP, Minsk, 220072. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 63, No. 4, pp. 667–675, July–August, 1996.     

Preparation and characterization of cerium doped LaCoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> perovskite

Cerium doped lanthanum cobaltite perovskites La_1–x Ce _x CoO₃ with x = 0, 0.2, 0.4 were prepared by the sol-gel method (calcined for 5 h at 750°C) and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis. The results showed that the cerium doping promoted the structural transformation of LaCoO₃ from rhombohedral into cubic structure. High specific surface area and small crystallite size were achieved at x = 0.2. The X-ray absorption results confirmed the formation of compound La_1–x Ce _x CoO₃.     

Advances in synthesis and characterization of LiMgBO3:Dy

The low Z polycrystalline LiMgBO₃:Dy³⁺ material has been successfully synthesized by novel solution combustion synthesis and studied for its luminescence characteristics. LiMgBO₃:Dy³⁺ material has shown promising TL sensitivity with a broad dosimetric glow peak at 154 °C. Near the tissue equivalent TL phosphor with Dy dopant has half of the TL sensitivity as compared to commercial TLD-100. The kinetic parameters i.e. trap depth or activation energy and frequency factor from the glow curve derived by using peak shape method. The main dosimetric characteristics such as dose response and fading effect are investigated. The state of dopant confirmed using photoluminescence spectra.     

Microwave resonant and zero-field absorption study of pure and doped ferrite nanoparticles

Microwave absorption was studied for magnetic nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄ (A) prepared by co-precipitation and Ni_0.35Cu_0.15Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (B) nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel combustion method at different temperature. In all cases only one ferromagnetic resonance line was observed which indicated that the materials were magnetically uniform. The linewidths were large mainly because of the wide variations in particle sizes, shapes and orientations. As expected, A type nanoparticles showed no absorption at zero-field. However, B type nanoparticles exhibited a sizable loss at a zero-field and the effect increases with the increase of reaction temperature. Mechanical crushing of the sample further enhanced the absorption.     

Cr3+ doped Al2O3 nanoparticles: Effect of Cr3+ content in intensifying red emission

Cr³⁺-doped α-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (Al_2−xCr_xO₃, 0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) were synthesized by co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of Cr³⁺:Al₂O₃ nanoparticles revealed the crystallite size of ∼53 nm and electron microscopy (SEM & TEM) confirmed the spherical nanoparticle formation. Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) displayed peaks at 406 and 558 nm corresponding to the Cr³⁺ transitions which became prominent with the increase in Cr³⁺ concentration which was also evidenced by the gradually increasing pink coloration of the samples. Photoluminescence (PL) studies showed the sharp red emission at 694 nm (ruby line) which was observed for all samples. The Dq/B value for all samples was found to be greater than 2.3 confirming the presence of Cr³⁺ ions in the octahedral sites. Chromaticity diagrams displayed the maximum red appearance for the sample with x = 0.01 and a lifetime of 4 ms. The synthesized Cr³⁺:Al₂O₃ nanoparticles with smaller crystallite sizes and narrow near monochromatic emission can be used in various applications including sensing, lasing, and bioimaging applications.     

Ion synthesis and optical properties of gold nanoparticles in an Al2O3 matrix

Single-crystal Al₂O₃(0001) and Al₂O₃(1120) substrates are implanted by 160-keV Au⁺ ions with doses from 10¹⁵ to 10¹⁷ cm^?2. Some of the implanted samples are air-annealed at 800–1200°C. The properties of the synthesized composite layers are studied by Rutherford backscattering and linear optical reflection measurements, and their nonlinear optical characteristics are examined by RZ-scanning using a picosecond Nd: YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The Rutherford backscattering spectra indicate that the implanted impurity concentrates near the surface of the Al₂O₃. The formation of gold nanoparticles in the Al₂O₃ can be judged from the characteristic optical plasmon resonance band in the reflectance spectra of the samples irradiated to a dose higher than 6.0 × 10¹⁶ cm^?2. The synthesized particles are shown to be responsible for nonlinear optical refraction in the samples. The nonlinear refractive index, n ₂, and the real part of the third-order susceptibility, Rex⁽³⁾, of the composite layers are determined.