Dysprosium Nanoparticles - Properties, Applications

Dysprosium is a Block F, Period 6 element. It is a rare earth element with very high magnetic strength. Dysprosium is not found in nature as a free element; however it is found in several minerals such as blomstrandine, gadolinite, monazite, euxenite, fergusonite, polycrase and xenotime.

The morphology of dysprosium nanoparticles is spherical, and their appearance is a silvery black powder. Dysprosium nanoparticles are graded as flammable solids. The recommended precaution is to avoid contact with skin and eyes

Chemical Properties

The chemical properties of dysprosium nanoparticles are outlined in the following table.

Physical Properties

The physical properties of dysprosium nanoparticles are given in the following table.

Thermal Properties

The thermal properties of dysprosium nanoparticles are provided in the table below.

Manufacturing Process

Dysprosium nanoparticles can be produced by alkalide reduction at subambient temperatures. The magnetization of Dy nanoparticles is blocked below 9 and 20 K. Then the samples are annealed at 1000°C (1832°F) for 4 h. The magnetic entropy curves produced from magnetization data are consistent with that of a paramagnet, thus enabling production of large values at low temperatures due to the high effective moment of Dy.

Applications

The key applications for dysprosium nanoparticles are as follows:

• As a dopant in glass and optical fibers, and in phosphors, nanophosphors and doped phosphorous nanoparticles
• It is added to many advanced optical applications as it emits 470-500 nm and 570-600nm wavelengths

Further research to exploit the properties of their potential areas of application is ongoing, and compounds such as dysprosium oxide and dysprosium fluoride can also have numerous applications in nanoparticle form.

Source: AZoNano