One-step synthesis and characterization of Y2O3 nanoparticles via emulsion detonation method.

Yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3) nanoparticles have critical applications in many industries, including ceramics, optics, and biomedicine. However, conventional synthesis methods are typically cumbersome and time-consuming. Herein, a novel emulsion detonation method successfully achieved the one-step synthesis of Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles. In this method, yttrium nitrate hexahydrate was uniformly dispersed in the emulsion explosive as a precursor and an auxiliary oxidizer. After the emulsion explosive was detonated in a detonation chamber, the detonation products were collected, purified and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, Raman spectrometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, field emission transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The results show that the as-synthesized powders are high-purity cubic phase yttrium oxide nanoparticles with a spherical-like morphology and an average particle size of approximately 30 nm. These Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles have a wide (5.53 eV) energy band gap, close to the conventional methods. Based on detonation theory, thermochemical theory, and characterization results, this text discussed the mechanism of the Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles synthesized by the emulsion detonation method. During detonation, the formation of the Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles underwent three stages: the formation of the Y 2 O 3 molecules by the collision of Y and O ions, the formation of the crystal nucleus at supersaturation concentration, and crystal growth. This study provides a novel, cost-effective method for efficiently synthesizing Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]