Comparative Study of Nano Crystalline Ceria Synthesized by Different Wet-Chemical Methods

Abstract

Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles were synthesized by using sol–gel methods and the Composite Mediated Hydrothermal Method (CMHM). Sol–gel synthesis was done for 0.6 M molarity of the precursor solution of cerium nitrate hexa hydrated [Ce(NO3)3⋅6H2O] and the hydrothermal synthesis was done at 180 °C for 45 min. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) was used to measure the structural properties of the prepared ceria. Scherrer’s formula was used to calculate the crystallite sizes of average and most intense peak. Temperature dependent (200 °C to 700 °C) dc conductivity was measured and found to be increasing with the increase in measuring temperature. The frequency dependent (20 Hz to 3 MHz) ac conductivity and dielectric properties were measured at different temperatures. The comparison of electric and dielectric properties was studied. Both synthesis techniques were further analyzed by the Raman spectrum at 514 nm excitation laser line for the different bands of cerium oxide and oxygen vacancies.