ISSN 1070-3632, Russian Journal of General Chemistry, 2014, Vol. 84, No. 10, pp. 2043–2044. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2014.
Original Russian Text © D.V. Tolstikova, M.D. Mikhailov, V.M. Smirnov, 2014, published in Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, 2014, Vol. 84, No. 10, pp. 1742–
1743.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Features of the Synthesis of Nanoparticles
of Yttrium Oxide Y2O3:Nd
D. V. Tolstikovaa,b, M. D. Mikhailovb, and V. M. Smirnova
a St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii pr. 26, St. Petersburg, 198504 Russia
e-mail: vms11@yandex.ru
b Vavilov Research Institute of Materials Science, St. Petersburg, Russia
Received June 23, 2014
Keywords: ceramics, yttrium oxide, nanoparticles, sol–gel, synthesis
DOI: 10.1134/S1070363214100314
Active medium of solid-state lasers, laser ceramics
based on yttrium oxide, has a combination of proper-
ties providing its high competitive ability relative to
both laser glasses and laser crystals. Properties of
source materials, like chemical and phase purity,
particle size, particle size distribution, homogeneity of
particle shapes, and absence of rigid agglomeration,
belong to critical factors of manufacturing transparent
ceramics [1].
preparation of nanoparticles, which then should be
transferred into solution with adding a stabilizer. To
obtain an optical laser ceramics, the powder should be
necessarily ground in a ball mill [3]. Therefore the aim
of this work was to modify the Pechini method in such
a way as to obtain less agglomerated powders, saving
advantages of the method.
We modified the Pechini method, using the prin-
ciple operating in the method of the self-propagating
high-temperature synthesis, which makes it possible to
obtain low-agglomerated nanocrystal powders Y2O3.
In this case the temperature in a sample reached 900–
1000°С, however no qualitative caking occurred. It is
due to the fact that the self-propagating high-
temperature synthesis is accompanied with intensive
gasification of reagents, which prevents from the
subsequent more complete sintering [4].
Investigation of the synthesis of yttrium oxide
(Y2O3 : Nd) by the Pechini method has allowed us to
modify the procedure with the purpose of improving
properties of resulting powders, precursors of optical
ceramics.
In this work Y2O3:Nd powders are considered from
the viewpoint of morphology and agglomeration.
In the late 1960th it was suggested to use the
method including a preliminary stage of the reaction
between initial components in solution resulting in the
gel formation and in the decomposition of formed
metal-polymer compositions up to oxides for the syn-
thesis of inorganic compounds [2]. The gel is formed
as a result of the esterification reaction between a
polyatomic acid, which plays the role of a ligand for
metal ions, and a polyatomic alcohol. Citric and ethyl-
enediaminetetraacetic acids and polyethylene glycol
are the most often used acid and alcohol, respectively.
As a result of the thermal processing of the polymeric
gel a porous mass consisting of strongly agglomerated
nanoparticles of synthesized oxides is formed. The
Pechini method is not applicable, for example, to the
The product of the Pechini synthesis was obtained
by a thermal treatment of the polymeric gel, which
represented a structured colloid system. Solid particles
of the disperse phase are connected with each other in
a loose space net containing a liquid disperse medium
in the meshes. Contacts between particles are de-
stroyed under the action of heat during the gel
calcination. We suggest to include a process of
intensive gas evolution in this closing stage, which
would hinder the agglomeration and caking of particles
similarly to the principle of the self-propagating high-
temperature method of the synthesis. To do that, it is
necessary to add a foaming agent to the system before
the polymer formation, which further will fill the
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Tolstikova
