Gamma-radiolytic preparation of multi-component oxides

Journal article, 2016

The preparation of solid precursors to Zn1-XCdXO and (Lu,Y)(3)Al5O12:Ce induced by Co-60 gamma-ray irradiation of aqueous solutions containing soluble metal salts and ammonium formate is presented: Due to the irradiation, crystalline zinc carbonate hydroxide Zn-4(CO3)(OH)(6). H2O or amorphous carbonates of Lu, Y and Al were formed in the solutions. After calcination at 500 degrees C, the agglomerated phase-pure Zn1-XCdXO with crystallite size about 50 nm was obtained if the Cd concentration in solutions remained below 16 M% (with respect to Zn) with x being up to 0.035. The solid precursors to garnets contained the intended concentration of all elements, according to X-ray fluorescence analysis. After calcination at 1200 degrees C in mild vacuum, the respective phase-pure garnets with crystallite size 100 nm or their solid solution were produced when the Ce dopation was kept below 2 M% (with respect to rare-earth metals). The Ce solubility in the garnet lattice was estimated as 1-2 M% at the calcination conditions used.