(TiO2)1 (CeO2)1−x (RE2O3)x – novel environmental secure pigments

This paper embodies the results of the investigations carried out on the synthesis of titania – rare earth mixed oxide pigments: (TiO2)1 (CeO2)1−x (RE2O3)x, where RE = Y, Pr, Nd or Sm with nominal compositions: x = 0.2 and 0.8 and their characterization by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometric analysis and reflectance spectral data. The synthesized pigment samples are having color coordinates, low a and high b and exhibit the colors ranging from yellow to orange-red. The dominant reflectance of these colorants lies in the wavelength region of 600–800 nm. Among the various colorants prepared, Y and Sm doped pigments are found to be promising candidates as ecological pigments because of their high reflectance, lightness and intense coloration.