Sol-gel synthesis, characterization and application of selected sub-microsized lanthanide (Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb) ferrites

A simple and environmentally benign aqueous sal-gel method has been applied for the synthesis of inorganic lanthanide-iron-based oxide pigments (Ln(3)Fe(5)O(12) and LnFeO(3); Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb). The phase purity and morphological features of prepared pigments were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The limit of substitution of neodymium by cerium in sal-gel derived Nd1-xCexFeO3 samples has been also investigated. All synthesized pigments were used for the preparation of ceramic glazes. The L*, a* and b* coordinates in CIELab colour space of pigments and glazes were determined. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.