Without surfactants, milled Gd2O3 are rough (submicron) particles of various shapes.
High sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) adsorption on milled grains forms Gd2O3 nanowires.
Low cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) adsorption forms coarser Gd2O3 particles.
Surface force arising from surfactants adsorption varies the shape of milled Gd2O3.
High SDS adsorbability stabilises the particles via steric and charge balance.