Electrochemical Synthesis of Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Nanostructures in the Presence of Cationic Surfactant: CTAB

Abstract

In this research, pure Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG, Y3Al5O12) nanostructures were synthesized through a two-step process by using chloride precursors in a solution of water–ethanol electrolyte with specific ratio. Also, the effect of cationic surfactant CTAB, on the size and the morphology of the prepared nanostructures were investigated. For the synthesis of YAG, a layer of hydroxide film was deposited on the surface of cathode via cathodic electrodeposition method and then, it was transformed to the final oxide product in the course of a thermal operation. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis was used for characterization of phase and crystal structure of prepared materials and also Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR) was used for characterization of absorption bonds. Thermal behavior of deposited hydroxide during the thermal operation was studied by Differential Thermal Analysis and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (DTA-TGA) technique. The morphology and particle size of obtained powder was determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results of our studies showed that the cathodic electrodeposition method is a practical and very efficient method for preparation of YAG nanostructures and addition of a cationic surfactant like CTAB into the electrolyte during the electrochemical deposition can lead to the formation of smaller particles and also has an impressive effect on the homogeneity and narrower particles size distribution.