Effect of sintering time on particle size of rare earth compounds (R = Nd) prepared by wet chemical method

Abstract

Microstructure of nanocrystalline Nd₂O₃ supported on amorphous SiO₂ upon heat treatment in air at 700°C for 8-32 h has been studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It has been found that the annealing time and sintering temperature played a pivotal role to obtain hexagonal and cubic neodymium oxide. The sample calcined at constant sintering temperature 700°C for 32 h was cubic Nd₂O₃ nanocrystallites with average size ~10 nm.