Preparation of inorganic crystalline compounds induced by ionizing, UV and laser radiations

Results on preparation of nickel, zinc, yttrium, aluminum and cobalt oxides, zinc peroxide and hydroxide, yttrium and lutetium aluminum garnets and cobalt(II) aluminate via irradiation of aqueous solutions containing soluble metal salts and radical scavengers (formate anion or propan-2-ol) are summarized in this paper. Various physico-chemical and structural properties of prepared compounds (e.g. crystallinity, specific surface area, particle size) are also reported. All used variants of radiation method are rather convenient and simple, and yield nano-scale powder materials with interesting characteristics. Prepared materials generally have high chemical purity, high specific surface area and narrow distribution of particle size (ranging in tens of nm). Generally, accelerated electrons, gamma, and UV radiation yield materials with comparable properties and structural characteristics, but UV-radiation seems to be the most convenient for preparation of intricate compounds such as synthetic garnets and spinels, while ionizing radiation is better for preparation of compounds doped with foreign ions. Among discussed compounds, only zinc oxide, peroxide and hydroxide were prepared directly via irradiation. For preparation of other crystalline oxidic compounds, mild heat treatment of amorphous or weakly crystalline solid phase was necessary. ► Various nanoscale inorganic compounds were synthesized via irradiation of aqueous solutions of precursors. ► Ionizing (accelerated electrons, gamma) and non-ionizing (UV, laser) radiations were used for the synthesis. ► The synthesis was performed in the presence of formate anion or propan-2-ol. ► Nanoparticles of prepared materials have narrow size distribution.