Preparation and size evaluation of nanometer gadolinium powder

Nanometer-size gadolinium powders (nm-Gd) have been prepared by means of evaporation condensation of Gd atoms within inert gas atmosphere. Microscopic analyses, based on measurements of small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering spectrum (RSS), and observation with transmission electron microscope (TEM), have been carried out in order to evaluate the size and size distribution of the as-prepared nm-Gd powder. It turns out that the size distribution function of nm-Gd powder agrees very well with the distribution function of Rayleigh instead of logarithmic distribution. The mean size d of nm-Gd powders bears a linear relationship with the logarithm of the pressure p of the inert gas atmosphere as follows: d = a + b · ln p. A discussion concerning the influence of particle size of nm-Gd powder on nanostructured material parameters such as the size distribution, specific surface area, and the percentage of interface atoms have been given in detail.