Fabrication, characterization, and electrical conductivity properties of Pr6O11 nanoparticles

Pr6O11 nanoparticles were obtained by subsequent thermal decomposition of the as-prepared precipitate formed under ambient temperature and pressure using NaOH as precipitant The calcination process was affected, for 1 h in static air atmosphere, at 400-700 degrees C temperature range. The different samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), in situ electrical conductivity, and N-2 adsorption/desorption. The obtained results demonstrated that nano-crystalline Pr6O11, with crystallites size of 6-12 nm, started to form at 500 degrees C. Such value increased to 20-33 nm for the sample calcined at 700 degrees C. The as-synthesized Pr6O11 nanoparticles presented high electrical conductivity due to electron hopping between Pr(III)-Pr(IV) pairs.