A facile sonochemical-assisted process has been developed for the morphology-controlled preparation of nanostructured zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2 ) by using zirconyl nitrate and ethylenediamine for the first time. Effects of concentration of ethylenediamine and several solvents were studied to reach optimum condition. It was found that these parameters play important roles in controlling the morphology and particle size of the final products. The structural and morphological properties of the as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDS) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the optical properties of as-synthesized ZrO 2 were examined by Ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy. The photocatalytic behavior of as-synthesized ZrO 2 was also examined by degradation of eriochrome black T dye as a model of water contaminant.

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Praseodymium oxide (Pr6O11) nanostructures were prepared via a new simple solvent-less route.

Nanocrystalline praseodymium oxide was prepared by a novel facile precipitation route via reaction of praseodymium nitrate and triethylenetetramine (Trien) as a new precipitating agent in the presence of poly ethylene glycol (PEG). To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first successful attempt for the synthesis of nanocrystalline praseodymium oxide by using PEG via a simple precipitation route in the presence of Trien. To investigate the effect of the amount of Trien on the morphology and particle size of praseodymium oxide, several experiments were carried out. Based on the experimental findings of this research, it was found that this parameter has an important impact on the morphology and particle size of the products. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the as-obtained products were characterized by techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. To evaluate the catalytic properties of nanocrystalline praseodymium oxide, the photocatalytic degradation of 2-naphthol under ultraviolet light irradiation was carried out.

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The effect of the anionic shape-and size-controller on the morphology and size of Nd 2 O 3 prepared by new simple approach was studied. Nanostructured Nd 2 O 3 was synthesized by heat treatment in air at 900 °C for 5 h., employing powder, which was prepared by a solventfree solid-state reaction from [Nd L(NO 3 ) 2 ]NO 3 (L = bis-( 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde)-ethanediamine Schiff base compound), as new precursor, in presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as shape-and size-controller. The structural, morphological and optical properties of as-obtained nanostructured Nd 2 O 3 were characterized by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), 10 energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The obtained results demonstrated that the amount of SDS play key role in the morphology and particle size controlling of the neodymium oxide. Furthermore, the catalytic properties of the as-prepared nanostructures were evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of the erythrosine (anionic dye) as water contaminant. 15