Structural and electrical properties of ceria nanoparticles on aluminosilicate matrices

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative study of structural and electrical properties of the aluminosilicate 2:1 layers of vermiculite (phyllosilicate) and the aluminosilicate cyclosilicate framework of cordierite anchoring ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles. The solution process and the findings are based on the structural characteristics already published in earlier works complemented by the measurement of the electrical properties. The electrical conductivity and relative permittivity were measured in the three frequencies of 104, 105 and 106 Hz in a homemade measuring plastic chamber with the conductive Cu plates. The aluminosilicate matrices of phyllosilicates showed higher electrical conductivity in comparison with the conductivity of cordierites. The increase in electrical conductivity CeO2 and corresponding decrease in relative permittivity in the frequencies range from 104 to 106 Hz were attributed to the augmentation of grain interior conductivity due to the trace amounts of nitrates captured after precipitation from their solutions. Ceria sintered in cordierite at 1300 °C showed high crystallinity and the crystal structure defects which contributed to the photocatalytic decomposition N2O under UV radiation while preserving the electrical conductivity and relative permittivity of cordierite.