Preparation and characterization of Er₂O₃ nanocrystals by Schiff base salt combustion method

The nanocrystals Er₂O₃ were prepared by using a combustion method with Schiff base as a chelating agent. The Er(III) coordination compound of Schiff base, obtained from erbium nitrate and retinal Schiff base, underwent a combustion process and voluminous ashes formed when calcimining the complex in air. Pure cubic Er₂O₃ nanocrystals with a diameter of 13 nm were produced. The nanocrystals were homogeneous and rigid coacervation was not observed. The photoluminescence emission spectrum of the erbium(III) oxide nanocrystals shows that it has a characteristic peak at 1.54 μm, and some other shoulder peaks appear on both sides of the main peak.