Inclusions of nanometer-sized Al2O3 particles in a crystalline (Sc,Lu)(2)(WO4)(3) matrix

Nanometer-sized Al2O3 particles were successfully synthesized as crystallin e inclusions by mixing both components to form the nanometer-sized particle s and the (Sc,Lu),(WO,), matrices in a crystal lattice by preparing a solid solution of (Sc,Lu)(2)(WO4)(3) and Al-2(MoO4)(3) and then decomposing the solid solution. The particles were dispersed uniformly and! without agglome ration, which is commonly observed with conventional preparation techniques . The average particle size of the Al2O3 was 3.5 nm, and the standard devia tion was estimated to be 1.1 nm.