Influence of hydrogenation on the structural, optical and magnetic properties of Gd-incorporated WO3 nanocomposites synthesised by precipitation method

ABSTRACT Nanoparticlesof tungsten oxide combined with varying amounts of gadolinium ions were synthesised by a hydrochloric acid-assisted precipitation method. The powders were characterised by ; X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance (DRS), and magnetic measurements. The ordinary monoclinic structure of WO3 was transformed into one of its Magneli structures (W32O84) by the incorporation of a tiny Gd ions due to the variation in the local charge neutrality . Different magnetic behaviours of Gd-incorporated W-oxide were observed depending on the synthesis procedure including a hydrogenation. The hydrogenated Gd-incorporated W-oxide has FM-behaviour. However, the created FM properties were severely undermined by increasing the Gd inclusion to more than 1%, which was attributed to the effect of the Gd interionic separations and the minute solubility of Gd in of W-oxide. This study focuses on the conditions necessary to realise the creation of FM in W-oxide by Gd ions incorporation for many applications, such as optical phosphors and catalysts.