Preparation and morphology of nano-size ceria by a stripping precipitation using oxalic acid as a precipitating agent

The precursors organic cerium deposits were obtained by a stripping precipitation method from cerium-loaded P507 organic phase using oxalic acid as a precipitating agent and nano-sized ceria particles were prepared by calcining the precursors at 500 °C. The morphologies, phase structure of the precursors and ceria particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DSC) and infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR). The results indicated that the concentration of oxalic acid had a little impact on the morphology of the precursors, which was blocky-shape Ce2(C2O4)3·10H2O with a monoclinic lattice structure. With the volume ratio of organic phase and oxalic acid aqueous solution (aqueous phase) varied from 1:3 to 1:6, the morphologies of the precursors Ce2(C2O4)3·10H2O precipitates gradually changed from inhomogeneous blocky-shape to uniform spherical particles. The precursors could be turned to CeO2 crystal particles with a fluorite structure by calcining, and the products ceria particles were similar in the size and morphology to the precursors.