Synthesis and Characterization of Gd(2)O(3) Hollow Microspheres Using a Template-Directed Method

Uniform rare-earth gadolinium oxide (Gd(2)O(3)) hollow microspheres, as formed through a urea-assisted homogenous precipitation process using carbon spheres as a template and a subsequent heat treatment, were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Tellet surface area measurement. The results indicate that the final products can be indexed to a cubic Gd(2)O(3) phase with high purity and have a uniform morphology at 500 nm in diameter and 20 nm in shell thickness. The as-synthesized Gd(2)O(3) hollow microspheres exhibited a superior photooxidation activity to that of Gd(2)O(3) powder and an effect similar to P25, significantly broadening the potential of Gd(2)O(3) hollow microspheres for many practical applications.