THE SOL-GEL PROCESS OF THE YTTRIUM COMPLEX FROM YTTRIUM ACETATE

Solid yttrium acetate becomes soluble in methoxyethanol, when diethyle netriamine is introduced and the molar ratio of diethylenetriamine to yttrium acetate is greater-than-or-equal-to 1.5. It is proposed that t he mechanism of the dissolution is: (1) free alkoxyl groups are formed due to the reaction of diethylenetriamine with methoxyethanol; (2) th e charged alkoxyl groups are coordinated with Y3+ in yttrium acetate t o form a soluble species. When water is added to the methoxyethanol so lution of yttrium acetate with diethylenetriamine, a gel is formed. Th e optical transmission of the gels is dependent on the content of H2O. The detailed analysis of the reactions related to dissolution of Y(OA C)3 and its sol-gel process is given.