Preparation of Europium-Doped TiO2 Using Metal Alkoxoacetylacetonates
摘要
Using titanium and europium alkoxoacetylacetonates, oxides of the composition TiO2 : xEu (where x = 0–10 at %) were prepared. The process of hydrolysis and polycondensation of alkoxoacetylacetonates of these metals was studied, and it was found that the addition of a small amount of europium significantly accelerates hydrolysis, but an increase in the concentration of the europium complex slows down this process. The hydrolysis and polycondensation products were subjected to solvothermal treatment. The resulting powders had an anatase structure, without impurities of europium oxide or other polymorphic modifications of TiO2. The size of the coherent scattering region (CSR) of powders increases with the europium content in the system: from 6–7 nm (0, 1 at % Eu) to 16.3 nm (10 at % Eu). According to electron microscopy data, the size of nanoparticles is 1–2 nm larger than the CSR value, which indicates the presence of an amorphous shell in the synthesis product particles. The product nanoparticles are organized into spherical agglomerates (from 0 to 5 at % Eu), while in the case of TiO2–10 at % Eu, no hierarchically organized structures were found. When applying a TiO2 film by microextrusion printing using the powder obtained in the manufacture of functional inks, the microstructure and crystal structure of the powder used are preserved.