Structure and phase composition of nanocrystalline Ce1−xLuxO2−y

The microstructure and phase stability of nanocrystalline mixed oxide LuxCe1−xO2−y (x=0–1) are described. Nano-sized (3–4 nm) oxide particles were prepared by the reverse microemulsion method. Morphological and structural changes upon heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and Yb3+ emission spectroscopy, the latter ion being present as an impurity in the Lu2O3 starting material. Up to 950 °C, the samples were single phase, with structure changing smoothly with Lu content from fluorite type (F) to bixbyite type (C). For the samples heated at 1100 °C phase separation into coexisting F- and C-type structures was observed for 0.35