Surface morphology and dispersity of europium heteroligand compounds subjected to mechanical activation

Abstract

The methods of scanning electron and atomic-force microscopy were used to study the surface shape, size, and morphology of the particles in a reaction mixture (rare-earth salts with organic ligands) before and after mechanical processing in a centrifugal planetary ball mill. It was established that, after mechanical treatment, the luminescent europium and terbium heteroligand carboxylates and β-diketonates with neutral nitrogen-containing ligands turn into 10–12-μm globules composed of smaller particles with sizes 0.3–0.01 μm.