Properties of the ceria colloidal particles prepared by the solvothermal. oxidation of cerium metal

Solvothermal reaction of cerium metal in 2-methoxyethanol at 200-300 degrees C yields a transparent colloidal solution containing crystallized ultrafine (2-6 nm) ceria particles. High-surface area ceria powder (183 m(2)g(-1)) is obtained by heat treatment at 100 degrees C of the product recovered by coagulation of ceria particles in the colloidal solution. However, the surface area of the ceria powders abruptly decreased by calcinations at high temperatures (the sample calcined at 600 degrees C have a surface area of 2.7 m(2)g(-1) with the crystallite size of 21 nm). When a non-ionic surfactant was added to the recovered ceria powder, it maintained a high-surface area (76 m(2)g(-1)) even after calcination at 600 degrees C. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.