Dispersion of lanthanum hexaboride nanoparticles in water and in sol-gel silica arrays

Abstract

Dispersion of lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) nanoparticles in water and in sol-gel silica was investigated. The average size of lanthanum hexaboride nanoparticles/agglomenties decreases with increasing magnitude of the zeta potential in water with and without citric acid. Citrate-coated LaB6 nanoparticles were freeze-dried and mixed with TEOS/ethanol/water/HCl to disperse the nanoparticles in the sol-gel silica. A model for the interaction of citrate coated LaB6 and silica is presented.