Synthesis of spherical nanoparticles of Cu2L2O5 (L = Ho, Er) from W/O microemulsions

Nanoparticles of Cu2L2O, (L = Ho, Er) (15-25 nm in size) were synthesised b y the intermediate use of W/O microemulsions. In this process the aqueous c ores of water/cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/n-octane/1-butanol microemulsi ons were used as microreactors for the precipitation of Cu2Ho2(CO3)(4)(OH)( 2) (25-30 nm) and Cu2Er2(CO3)(4)(OH)(2) (10-40 nm) as precursors. These mix ed salts were separated and further decomposed to the corresponding mixed o xides at 900 degrees C for 16 h. All solids were characterised by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, IR, XRPD, ICP-OES, TCA, XPS measureme nts and elemental analyses. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.