Synthesis of PTSH-modified CeO2 nanoparticles: Effect of the modifier on structure, optical properties, and dispersibility

• CeO2 NP were modified with PTSH by both in situ and post modification methods.
• PTSH grafting on CeO2 nanoparticles was confirmed by FTIR.
• In situ modification allows the CeO2 structure and optical properties preservation.
• PTSH modification allows a better CeO2 dispersion in the PEO–siloxane hybrid.

CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by the precipitation method and modified with para-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSH), either in situ or post-synthesis. The presence of PTSH in the samples was confirmed by FTIR. PXRD and FTIR analyses showed that the post-synthesis PTSH modification altered the CeO2 structure, whereas the in situ modification maintained intact the crystalline structure and UV–vis absorbance properties. For both in situ and post-synthesis modifications, TEM images revealed the presence of nanoparticles that were 5 nm in size. The dispersibility of the in situ PTSH-modified material in a hydrophilic ureasil–poly(ethylene oxide) matrix was investigated using SAXS measurements, which indicated that CeO2 nanoparticles modified with PTSH in situ were less aggregated within the matrix, compared to unmodified CeO2 nanoparticles.

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