Preparation of Y2O3-doped CeO2 nanopowders by microwave-induced combustion process

Y2O3-doped CeO2 nanopowders were successfully synthesized by microwave-induced combustion process using cerium nitrate hexahydrate, yttrium nitrate hexahydrate, and urea. The process took only a few minutes to obtain Y2O3-doped CeO2 powders. The nanopowders were investigated by differential thermal analyzer/thermogravimeter (TG/DTA), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and specific surface area measurements (BET). The as-received Y2O3-doped CeO2 powders revealed that the average particle size ranged from 19 to 25 nm, crystallite dimension varied from 14 to 16 nm, and the distribution of specific surface range from 33 to 43 m2/g.