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Fabrication of CeO2–Nd2O3 microspheres by internal gelation process using M(OH)m and [MCit∙xH2O] (M=Ce3+, Ce4+, and Nd3+) as precursors

  • Original Paper: Fundamentals of sol-gel and hybrid materials processing
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Abstract

CeO2–Nd2O3 microspheres were successfully prepared by internal gelation process using M(OH)m and [MCit∙xH2O] (M = Ce3+, Ce4+, and Nd3+, Cit is (C6O7H5)3−) as precursors. The effects of Nd(NO3)3 content on the stability of precursor solution and on the microstructure of the sintered microspheres were investigated. The gelled microspheres and sintered composite microspheres were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The distribution of Nd3+ in the microspheres was also investigated by line scanning of SEM. The results indicated that the citrate salt in the gelled microspheres was [MCit∙xH2O] (M = Ce3+ and Nd3+). Compared with composite microspheres prepared with M(OH)m (M = Ce4+ and Nd3+) as a precursor, the mass fraction of Nd2O3 in composite microspheres prepared with [MCit∙xH2O] as a precursor highly coincided with the theoretical value. There was no concentration gradient in the microspheres and the distribution of Nd3+ was homogeneous. Phase composition of the composite microspheres was Ce0.75−xNd0.25+xO1.85 and CeO2.

The gelation process of microspheres prepared with hydroxide.

Highlights

  • CeO2–Nd2O3 microspheres were prepared by internal gelation process with M(OH)m and [MCit∙xH2O] as precursors.

  • The mass fraction of Nd2O3 in composite microspheres prepared with [MCit∙xH2O] highly coincides with the theoretical value.

  • No concentration gradient existed in the microspheres and the distribution of Nd3+ was homogeneous.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Key Program for International S&T Cooperation Projects of China (No. 2016YFE0100700), National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 51420105006), and “The Thirteenth Five-Year Plan” Discipline Construction Foundation of Tsinghua University (No. 2017HYYXKJS1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China

    Xueqiang Ding, Jingtao Ma, Xiangwen Zhou, Xingyu Zhao, Shaochang Hao, Changsheng Deng & Guanxing Li

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  1. Xueqiang Ding
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Correspondence to Jingtao Ma.

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Ding, X., Ma, J., Zhou, X. et al. Fabrication of CeO2–Nd2O3 microspheres by internal gelation process using M(OH)m and [MCit∙xH2O] (M=Ce3+, Ce4+, and Nd3+) as precursors. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 92, 66–74 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-019-05058-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-019-05058-4

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