Rare Earth Nanomaterials

III-5: Rare Earth Nano-materials

Alfred Tok (SME)

Abstract

The Rare Earth Nano-Materials Group focuses on the synthesis, processing, consolidation and applications of rare earth nano-particles. The group has developed various methods to synthesize these nano-particles in the oxide, nitride, sulfate and carbide forms. These methods include: Sol Gel Precipitation (Direct, Co-Precipitation, Gel Precipitation etc.) Plasma Spraying (Direct Current & Radio Frequency) Flame Spraying (Hydrolysis & Pyrolysis) Electrostatic Atomisation Several consolidation / application methods are also being studied and developed, and these include: Tape Casting (Aqueous & Non-Aqueous) Spray Drying Sputtering Spin Coating Typical research areas include gadolinium oxide-doped cerium oxide nano-particles for mid-temperature solid oxide fuel cells, ITO nano-particles for OLED and sputtering target, Y/Eu nano-particles for plasma displays, nano-phosphors for RGB and white LEDs, Boron-Neodymium for magnets, and barium sulphate and boron carbide nano-particles for medical and defence applications respectively. Rare earth nano-particles for applications in MLCCs and MLCPs for microelectronics are currently being studied.