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Synthesis and Characterization of Rare Earth Orthovanadate (RVO4; R = La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu & Gd) Nanorods/Nanocrystals/Nanospindles by a Facile Sonochemical Method and Their Catalytic Properties

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Abstract

We report herein on an efficient sonochemical method for the synthesis of rare earth orthovanadate nanorods/nanoparticles/nanospindles, (general formula RVO4; R = La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd). TGA, XRD, FTIR, Raman, UV–Vis, and TEM studies are employed for their characterization and for understanding their morphologies. In order to vary the textural properties of the rare earth vanadates, two surfactants, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and amphiphilic triblock copolymer Pluronic P123, are chosen in the preparation. While the sonochemical synthesis in the presence of PEG results in the formation of nearly spherical nanoparticles of LaVO4, CeVO4, SmVO4 and EuVO4, the same technique yields nanorods and nanospindles of NdVO4 and GdVO4, respectively. When P123 is used as the surfactant, the morphologies of RVO4 are strikingly different, and in most cases nanorods and nanospindles are formed. The photocatalytic activities of the rare earth orthovanadate have been evaluated by studying the degradation of methylene blue, and CeVO4 seems to be the best catalyst in the heterogeneous photolysis. The electrocatalytic activity of the vanadates has been examined by studying the hydrogen evolution reaction using a linear sweep voltammogram technique in 1 M of a H2SO4 solution. GdVO4 seems to be the best electrocatalyst.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Kanbar Laboratory for Nanomaterials, Center for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel

    R. Kalai Selvan & A. Gedanken

  2. Department of Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, India

    P. Anilkumar, G. Manikandan & C. Karunakaran

Authors
  1. R. Kalai Selvan
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  2. A. Gedanken
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  3. P. Anilkumar
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  4. G. Manikandan
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  5. C. Karunakaran
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Gedanken.

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Kalai Selvan, R., Gedanken, A., Anilkumar, P. et al. Synthesis and Characterization of Rare Earth Orthovanadate (RVO4; R = La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu & Gd) Nanorods/Nanocrystals/Nanospindles by a Facile Sonochemical Method and Their Catalytic Properties. J Clust Sci 20, 291–305 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10876-008-0229-y

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