Synthesis of monoclinic KGd(WO4)2 nanocrystals by two preparation methods

摘要

The monoclinic crystalline phase of KGd(WO4)2 is a well-known solid-state laser host. The present article describes how monoclinic nanocrystals of KGd(WO4)2 are synthesized by two different methodologies: the sol–gel modified Pechini method and femtosecond pulsed laser ablation of bulk material in deionized water. Transmission Electron Microscopy images show KGdW nanocrystals between 15 and 100 nm for both methods. The nanocrystals are studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) in order to identify the crystalline phase and to refine the unit cell parameters. For the sol–gel modified Pechini method, differential thermal analyses and XRD techniques were also used to optimize the method of preparation.