Molten salt synthesis of gadolinium aluminate powders

GdAlO3 powder was synthesized by reacting equimolar Gd2O3 and Al2O3 powders in NaCl or KCl salt. The synthesis temperature for GdAlO3 using NaCl or KCl salt was 1200 degrees C which is 300 degrees C lower than that in the conventional mixed-oxide method. The synthesized GdAlO3 powders retained the morphology of the original Al2O3 particles, indicating that a template formation mechanism plays an important role in the molten salt synthesis of GdAlO3.