Mechanochemical Synthesis of Nanocrystalline CeO{sub}2: The Effect of Annealing Temperatures on the Particle Size

摘要

Cerium dioxide (CeO{sub}2) nanoparticles were synthesized by a novel mechanochemical process. The precursors of Ce{sub}2(CO{sub}3){sub}3.xH{sub}2O and NaOH were mixed at a weight ratio of 4 to 1. The mixtures were milled using a planetary ball mill with ball to powder ratio of 10:1. The products were then characterized using a battery of characterization methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and gas adsorption-desorption measurement. The as-prepared particles were largely amorphous with an average specific surface area of about 119.94 m{sup}2/g. Nanocrystalline CeO{sub}2 with crystallite size of 4.5 nm was obtained when the sample was annealed in air at 350 °C. The heat treatment results showed that the crystallinity of nanocrystalline CeO{sub}2 increased with increasing annealing temperature.