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 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 Nd 2 O 3 nanocrystallites with average size ∼ 20 nm.