Synthesis of a dysprosium aluminum garnet nanopowder via sol–gel method

A dysprosium aluminum garnet (DAG) nanopowder was synthesized by aqueous sol–gel method using Al powder, HCl and Dy(CH3COO)3·4H2O as raw materials. The dried amorphous gel was heat treated in the range of 800–1,200 °C. The influence of heat treatment on crystallization and phase transformation of the dried gel was investigated using X-ray diffractometery, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was shown that the gel calcined from 900 to 1,200 °C resulted in the formation of a crystalline DAG nanopowder with particle size distribution ranges from 26 to 98 nm.