Cerium(III) N,N-dibutylcarbamate as precursor to nanocrystalline cerium dioxide

Nanostructured ceria has been prepared in mild conditions by hydrolysis of the N,N-dibutylcarbamato complex of cerium(III), [Ce(O2CNBu2)3], obtained by lanthanide extraction from aqueous solution into heptane containing CO2 saturated NHBu2. In dependence of the hydrolysis conditions, cerium(III) carbonates or hydroxocarbonate (characterized by IR, XRD and metal content) were obtained. Thermal treatment of these products at relatively low temperature (200 °C) yielded CeO2 in the form of a light yellow powder. The structure and morphology of the samples were studied by TEM, FESEM and XRD studies. The medium crystallite dimensions, estimated by TEM, appear to be of a few nanometers. Ceria with smaller medium crystallite dimensions was obtained by increasing the amine concentration in the course of the hydrolysis process.

Nanostructured ceria has been prepared in mild conditions by hydrolysis of the N,N-dibutylcarbamato complex of cerium(III), [Ce(O2CNBu2)3], obtained by lanthanide extraction from aqueous solution into heptane containing CO2 saturated NHBu2. The structure and morphology of the samples were studied by TEM, FESEM and XRD studies.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide