Synthesis of europium oxide nanorods by ultrasound irradiation

Europium oxide nanorods have been prepared by the sonication of an aqueous solution of europium nitrate in the presence of ammonia. The properties of the Eu2O3 nanorods were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Mossbauer spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The particle sizes measured from transmission electron micrographs and HRSEM are about 50 x 500 nm (W x L). A possible sonochemical mechanism for formation of the cut-opium oxide nanorods is discussed.