TEXTURE PROPERTIES OF YTTRIUM OXIDES GENERATED FROM DIFFERENT INORGANIC PRECURSORS

The texture properties of four samples of Y2O3 (cubic structure) gener ated from different inorganic precursors (hydrated Yttrium acetate, Y( CH3COO)(3) . 4H(2)O; nitrate, Y(NO3)(3) . 5H(2)O and oxalate, Y-2(C2O4 )(3) . 8H(2)O) at different temperatures have been studied using BET, pore size distribution, cumulative surface area, X-ray diffraction (XR D) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that samples obtained from both acetate at 700 degrees C (55 m(2)/gm) and n itrate at 500 degrees C (58 m(2)/gm) are very similar in surface area and pore structure (a wider spectrum of mesoporosity); i.e., good prec ursors for catalyst and catalyst support. The third sample obtained fr om oxalate at 700 degrees C exhibits a lower surface area ( 12 m(2)/gm ) and different in pore structure; i.e., a good precursor for ceramics and superconductor manufacture. For Y2O3 generated from nitrate, the increase in calcination temperature from 500 to 700 degrees C caused a decrease in the surface area from 58 to 20 m(2)/g, and in the micropo rosity development. The SEM and particle size calculations have been u sed to assess the surface properties of Y2O3 samples.