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Size, structure, and luminescence of Nd2Zr2O7 nanoparticles by molten salt synthesis

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Abstract

Pyrochlore materials with novel properties are in demand with multifunctional applications such as optoelectronics, scintillator materials, and theranostics. Many reports have already indicated the importance of the synthesis technique for Nd2Zr2O7 (NZO) nanoparticles (NPs); however, no explanation has been provided for the reason behind the nature of its phase selectivity. Here, we have explored the structural and optical properties of the NZO NPs synthesized by a molten salt synthesis method. We have synthesized size-tunable NZO NPs and correlated the particle size with their structural behavior and optical performance. All NZO NPs are stabilized in defect fluorite phase. Neutron diffraction provided insight on the behavior of oxygen in the presence of heavy atoms. We have collected bright amalgam of blue and green emission on UV irradiation due to the presence of oxygen vacancies from these NPs. We have carried out in situ XRD and Raman investigations to observe the temperature-induced phase transformation in a controlled argon environment. Interestingly, we have not observed phase change for the molten salt synthesized fluorite NZO NPs; however, we observed phase transformation from a precursor stage to pyrochlore phase by in situ XRD directly. These observations provide a new strategy to synthesize nanomaterials phase-selectively for a variety of applications in materials science.

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Acknowledgement

The authors thank the financial support by the National Science Foundation under CHE (#1710160), DMR (#1523577), DMR (#1455154, BSG), OIA (#1355438, partial salary support for MPT), and NASA Kentucky (NNX15AK28A, MPT). The Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is grateful to the Robert A. Welch Foundation (Grant No. BX-0048). SKG thanks the United States-India Education Foundation (India) and the Institute of International Education (USA) for his Fulbright Nehru Postdoctoral Fellowship (# 2268/FNPDR/2017). In situ XRD and Raman measurements, TEM/STEM and EDS characterization were conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and ND data were taken at the Neutron Science Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility. We also thank Dr. J. K. Keum and Dr. J. C. Neuefeind for technical assistance on the in situ XRD and ND measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA

    Jose P. Zuniga, Santosh K. Gupta, Maya Abdou, Héctor A. De Santiago & Yuanbing Mao

  2. Radiochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Santosh K. Gupta

  3. Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA

    Alexander A. Puretzky

  4. Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, 505 Rose Street, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA

    Melonie P. Thomas & Beth S. Guiton

  5. Neutron Science Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA

    Jue Liu

  6. School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA

    Yuanbing Mao

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  1. Jose P. Zuniga
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  2. Santosh K. Gupta
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  9. Yuanbing Mao
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Correspondence to Yuanbing Mao.

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Zuniga, J.P., Gupta, S.K., Abdou, M. et al. Size, structure, and luminescence of Nd2Zr2O7 nanoparticles by molten salt synthesis. J Mater Sci 54, 12411–12423 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03745-9

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