Preparation and properties of nanocrystal SmBO3 by nitrate-citrate sol-gel combustion method

Nanocrystal SmBO3 powders were synthesized by nitrate-citrate sol-gel combustion method. The phase evolution, morphologies and absorbency of the synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electronic microscope (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-3101PC spectrophotometer (UVPC), respectively. XRD and FESEM results showed that pure SmBO3 phase was obtained at 750 °C, with an average original particle size of about 100 nm. FTIR showed that there were apparently concentrated absorbent peaks between 500 and 1400 cm−1. Moreover, the reflectivity of the powders apparently decreased at the wavelength between 1.05 and 1.15 μm. Therefore, SmBO3 might be a kind of absorbent material for infrared laser.