Sol-Gel Synthesis and Antioxidant Properties of Yttrium Oxide Nanocrystallites Incorporating P-123

• Main Authors: Rebeca Mellado-Vázquez, Margarita García-Hernández, Arturo López-Marure, Perla Yolanda López-Camacho, Ángel de Jesús Morales-Ramírez, Hiram Isaac Beltrán-Conde
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2014-09-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: yttrium oxide (Y2O3); nanocrystallites; sol-gel; antioxidant properties
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/7/9/6768

Yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanocrystallites were synthesized by mean of a sol-gel method using two different precursors. Raw materials used were yttrium nitrate and yttrium chloride, in methanol. In order to promote oxygen vacancies, P-123 poloxamer was incorporated. Synthesized systems were heat-treated at temperatures from 700 °C to 900 °C. Systems at 900 °C were prepared in the presence and absence of P-123 using different molar ratios (P-123:Y = 1:1 and 2:1). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results revealed a characteristic absorption band of Y–O vibrations typical of Y2O3 matrix. The structural phase was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), showing the characteristic cubic phase in all systems. The diffraction peak that presented the major intensity corresponded to the sample prepared from yttrium chloride incorporating P-123 in a molar ratio of P-123:Y = 2:1 at 900 °C. Crystallites sizes were determined by Scherrer equation as between 21 nm and 32 nm. Antioxidant properties were estimated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) assays; the results are discussed.