1. 1
Spray Pyrolysis of Oxide Materials
Master Thesis in nanotechnology
Student: Roger Moen
Supervisor: Prof. Mari-Ann Einarsrud
Co-supervisors: Prof. Tor Grande and Ruth Astrid Strøm
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Topic
Prepare nanopowders by spray pyrolysis with varying
chemical and process parameters and determine their
effect on powder characteristics
– Chemical parameter: complexing agent
– Process parameters: precursor solution feeding rate and carrier gas
flow

3. 3
Previous work
• Y2O3:Eu3+
• Precursor solution concentration
– Little effect
• Complexing agents
– Affects reaction rate, tap density, crystallite size, morphology and
emission spectrum

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Materials
• Y2O3 and Y2O3:Eu3+.
• Precursors: Y(NO3)3 and Eu(NO3)3.
• Complexing agents: Maleic acid and EDTA

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Applications
Y2O3
• Refractory coatings
• Precursor for many
materials (e.g.
superconductors)
• Host material for many
RE elements
• Sensors
• Additive in paints and
plastics
Y2O3:Eu3+
• Red emitting phosphor in
displays and biological
imaging

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Preparation
• Steps
– Atomization of precursor solution
– Evaporation of solvent
– Thermolysis

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Characterization
• TGA
• XRD
– Crystallite size
– Purity
• SEM
– Morphology
• PL (doped samples only)
– Absorption and emission spectra
• Gas adsorption
– Specific surface area

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Crystallite sizes
Carrier gas flow rate (m3/h)
15 30 60
Feeding
flowrate
(mL/min)
75 15 16 15
150 16 15 15
300 16 16
• Uncomplexed precursor solution
• Calcined

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Crystallite sizes
Carrier gas flow rate (m3/h)
15 30 60
Feeding
flowrate
(mL/min)
75 12 13
150 12
300 15 15
• Complexing agent: maleic acid
• Calcined

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Crystallite sizes
Carrier gas flow rate (m3/h)
15 30 60
Feeding
flowrate
(mL/min)
75 14 17 14
150 15 18 14
300 17 19 16
• Complexing agent: EDTA
• Calcined

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Yield
Carrier gas flow rate (m3/h)
15 30 60
Feeding
flowrate
(mL/min)
75 9 33 64
150 35 55 42
300 88 64 56
• Uncomplexed precursor solution

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Yield
Carrier gas flow rate (m3/h)
15 30 60
Feeding
flowrate
(mL/min)
75 52 63 52
150 45 63 40
300 62 55 15
• Complexing agent: maleic acid

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Yield
Carrier gas flow rate (m3/h)
15 30 60
Feeding
flowrate
(mL/min)
75 40 55 58
150 49 57 51
300 46 50 43
• Complexing agent: EDTA

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