Reverse Micelle-Directed Synthesis of GdAlO3 Nanopowders

Gadolinium aluminate (GdAlO3) perovskite nanopowders were synthesized using microreactors made of poly(oxyethylene) nonylphenyl ether/water/cyclohexane microemulsions. Differential thermal analysis confirmed the formation of GdAlO3 at 902 degrees C. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) of all the powders indicated the formation of single-phase perovskite structure on calcination. The average crystallite size was found to increase with increase in water-to-surfactant molar ratio and the average particle size increases from 23 to 28nm on increasing the molar ratio from 4 to 8. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra show that the lower frequency bands are assigned to M-O vibrations, which are characteristic vibrations of perovskite structure compounds.