Structural and morphological properties of RE3+ doped sesquioxide Y2O3 spherical nanoparticles

Effects of rare earth (Er3+, Yb3+, Sm3+, Ce3+) doping of yttrium oxide nanoparticles on the crystal structure and morphology have been investigated. X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy show that chemical and structural transformations are taking place in as-prepared carbonate spherical particles in the temperature range of 400–1200 K. In the final form crystalline agglomerates are compositionally homogeneous with a diameter range of 165–185 nm and an average crystalline grain size of 45 nm. Rare earth (RE) doped yttria particles are found to be up to 40% smaller in crystal grain size. The development of surface texture is due to nanocrystalline substructure which is related to the applied thermal treatment: carbonate decomposition and yttria crystallization processes.