Facile synthesis of monodispersed CeO2 nanostructures

CeO2 nanostructures were successfully prepared by a facile and environmentally friendly mixed-solvothermal method under mild conditions. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) results indicated that the as-synthesized products were cubic CeO2 polycrystalline structures with uniform diameters in the range of 10–20 nm and lengths up to 80 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra and EDX data demonstrated that stoichiometric CeO2 was formed. A possible growth mechanism of the CeO2 nanostructures was proposed. Moreover, ultraviolet absorption measurement revealed the band gap of the CeO2 nanorods was estimated to be 3.85 eV, which is larger than the reported value for the bulk CeO2 (Eg=3.2 eV). Enhancement of the band gap of the CeO2 nanorods is attributed to the well-known quantum size effect.

► CeO2 nanorods were fabricated by a mixed-solvothermal method under mild conditions.
► Microstructures of the samples were characterized.
► Possible formation mechanism of CeO2 nanorods was proposed.
► CeO2 nanorods exhibited a clear blueshift of UV–vis absorption peak.