Microstructural Analysis of Thermally Treated Geopolymer Incorporated with Neodymium

The following investigation presents the thermal treatment of geopolymer at 300 degrees C, 600 degrees C and 900 degrees C. We investigated what happens to the geopolymer base when incorporated with 1% and 5% of neodymium in the form Nd2O3. A total of six samples were synthesized. Geopolymer 1 contained 1% and geopolymer 2 contained 5% Nd2O3, and these samples were treated at 300 degrees C; then, samples geopolymer 3 and geopolymer 4 also had the same percentage composition of Nd2O3 and were treated at 600 degrees C, while samples geopolymer 5 and geopolymer 6were treated at 900 degrees C. Physical and chemical changes in the aluminosilicate geopolymer matrix were monitored. The incorporation of rare earths into the polymer network of aluminosilicates has been proven to disrupt the basic structure of geopolymers; however, with increased temperatures, these materials show even more unusual properties. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) analysis showed that the intensity of the vibrational band decreases with the increase in temperature during thermal treatment, suggesting alterations in the chemical structure of the geopolymers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the diameter of the nanoparticles containing Al2O3 is in the range 5-10 nm, while larger crystallites range from 30 to 80 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the temperature of the thermal treatment increases to 300 degrees C and 600 degrees C; the porosity of geopolymer increases in the form of the appearance of large pores and cracks in material. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was used to investigate the surface chemistry of geopolymers, including the chemical composition of the surface, the oxidation state of the elements, and the presence of functional groups. The UV/Vis spectra of the synthesized geopolymers doped with Nd3+ show interesting optical properties at 900 degrees C; the geopolymer matrix completely disintegrates and an amorphous phase with a rare-earth precipitate appears.

Automated summary

This investigation examines the effects of thermal treatment on geopolymer at different temperatures and the incorporation of neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) at different concentrations. Six samples were synthesized and the physical and chemical changes in the geopolymer matrix were monitored. The study found that rare-earth doping disrupted the structure of geopolymers and higher temperatures led to further alterations. The analysis techniques used included DRIFT, TEM, SEM, XPS, and UV/Vis spectroscopy.