9 - Rare earth–doped SnO2 nanostructures and rare earth stannate (Re2Sn2O7) ceramic nanomaterials

Abstract

Rare earth (Sc, Y, and La–Lu)–based nanomaterials have received a lot of interest in recent years. Rare earth compounds continue to reveal novel properties at the nanoscale due to their excellent properties that affect physical, thermal, stability, electrical, chemical, biological, and optoelectrical properties. The important pyrochlore-type oxide compound rare earth stannate has a typical formula of Re2Sn2O7 (RE=La, Nb, Sm, Gd, Er, Yb), and rare earth–doped tin oxide ceramic nanomaterials have been used as catalysts, high-temperature pigments, magnets, optical emission materials, electronic materials, conductors, gas sensors, and radioactive waste hosts. The rRe/rSn radius ratio has been discovered to be responsible for the Re2Sn2O7 compound’s stable crystalline phase structure. The ability to synthesize Re2Sn2O7 and rare earth–doped ceramic nanomaterials with various shapes, monodispersity, chemical composition, and sizes is critical for their application in different fields. These methods include: coprecipitation, hydrothermal, solid-state, and microwave-assisted routes.