Colloidal Synthesis and Characterisation of (a) Na0.5K0.5NbO3 Thin Films; and (b) Functionalised Gd2O3 Nanocrystals

Abstract: (a) Thin films of the perovskite structured Na0.5K0.5NbO3 (NKN) have been synthesised with several different sol-gel methods. Only one method gave pure NKN phase while the other methods gave extra peaks in the x-ray diffraction patterns, indicating that other, unidentified, phases were present. Scanning electron microscopy revealed grain sizes ranging from about 50 to 300 nm. The films prepared by chemical methods are compared with sputtered thin films.(b) Nanocrystals of Gd2O3 have been prepared by various methods, using e.g. trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), diethylene glycol (DEG). The crystalline particles were of sizes 5 to 15 nm. Onto the surface of the particles, made with DEG, different carboxylic acids e.g. oleic acid or citric acid etc, were adsorbed. From IR measurements the bonding to the surface is recognised as chemisorbed via the carboxylate group in a bidentate or bridging fashion, with preference for the bridging coordination. The organic acid-particle complexes were characterised by XRPD, TEM, FTIR, Raman and XPS.