The electrorheological properties of nano-sized SiO2 particle materials doped with rare earths

Electrorheological (ER) materials of pure SiO2 and SiO2 doped with rare earths (RE = Ce, Gd, Y) (non-metallic glasses (silicates)) were prepared using Na2SiO3 and RECl3 as starting materials. The electrorheological properties are not enhanced by all rare earth additions. The material doped with Ce exhibits the best ER performance.