Authors: P Aghamkar S Duhan M Singh N Kishore P K Sen
Publish Date: 2008/02/28
Volume: 46, Issue: 1, Pages: 17-22
Abstract
Nd2O3–SiO2 binary oxide system was synthesized by the solgel method using hydrochloric acid as a catalyst The binary oxide transformed from the amorphous phase via intermediate oxide phase into crystalline phase upon heat treatment in air Characterization of the Nd2O3SiO2 was carried out by using Xray diffraction XRD Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR Scanning electron microscopy SEM and Photoluminescence PL The effect of the annealing temperature and annealing time on the phase evolution of the binary oxide system has been discussed in detail It was found that the annealing temperature and heat treatment duration played a pivotal role to obtained neodymium silicates and Nd2O3 At temperature 1200 °C the sample was sintered for 6 h and obtained Nd2O3 nanocrystallites with average size ∼18 nmP Aghamkar thankfully acknowledeges Dr K C Bhardwaj for constant encouragement and Dr P Sen for fruitful discussion Thanks are due to CSIR and DST FIST New Delhi for financial assitance S Duhan is grateful to CSIR New Delhi for fellowship
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