Non-Hydrolytic Synthesis and Electronic Structure of Ligand-Capped CeO2- and CeOCl Nanocrystals

Published

August 13, 2009

Author(s)

Daniel A. Fischer, S. Depner, K. Kort, Cherno Jaye, Sarbajit Banerjee

Abstract

A novel and versatile non-hydrolytic approach is developed for the synthesis of ligand-passivated CeO2-δ and CeOCl nanocrystals soluble in non-polar organic solvents based on the condensation of cerium alkoxides with cerium halides. The alkyl group on the metal alkoxides and the specific halide used in synthesis are observed to considerably influence the composition and size of the obtained nanocrystals. The obtained nanocrystals are <3 nm in diameter and owing to their surface-capping groups yield homogeneous and clear solutions in non-polar organic solvents with no evidence of agglomeration. The electronic structure of the obtained CeO2-δ nanocrystals has been studied using optical absorption spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy at Ce M- and O K-edges. The latter technique provides detailed insight into the metal valence, geometric structure, and atom-projected density of states in these nanocrystals. Finally, this synthesis method has been expanded to explore the doping of La to form solid-solution CexLa1-xO2-δ nanocrystals.

Citation

Journal of Physical Chemistry C

Volume

113

Issue

32

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

naocrystals, CeO2, CeOCl, electronic structure

Citation

Fischer, D. , Depner, S. , Kort, K. , Jaye, C. and Banerjee, S. (2009), Non-Hydrolytic Synthesis and Electronic Structure of Ligand-Capped CeO2- and CeOCl Nanocrystals, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=902942 (Accessed October 11, 2025)