Template-free hydrothermal synthesis and characterisation of single crystalline Ce(OH)CO ₃ and CeO ₂ with spindle-like structures

Abstract

Single crystalline Ce(OH)CO3 and CeO2 with spindle-like structures were synthesised by a facile hydrothermal synthesis method. Then the effect of reaction time and concentration of cerium precursor on the formation and morphologies of Ce(OH)CO3 and CeO2 were further investigated. The products were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the single crystalline Ce(OH)CO3 with spindle-like structures could be obtained at 120°C for 8 h. The present method shows an easy process without high reaction temperature, long reaction time, surfactant and template to attain final Ce(OH)CO3 products. Furthermore, single crystalline CeO2 with spindle-like structures had been fabricated by a oxidation process at 600°C for 2 h using Ce(OH)CO3, with spindle-like structures as the precursor. Meanwhile, the single crystalline spindle-like CeO2 shows a high catalytic activity on CO conversion.