Synthesis and characterization of rare earth-doped CuO nanopowder and its infrared characteristic

The nano composite powder of rare earth-doped CuO were prepared by the stearic gel method and characterized by means of X-ray (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and IR. Microscopic investigation of the nanopowder was measured by AFM. The result shows that the grain sizes are in the order of nanometers, approximately 10, 12, 22, 32 and 40 nm for the nanopowder deposited at 600, 650, 700, 750 and 800°C. The grains grow up with the increase of sintering temperature. There are some agglomeration and selfassemble phenomenon in the particles. IR result indicates that the vibration kurtosis was changed with the different sintering temperature.