Synthesis of four-fold shape CeO2 dendrites by a reduction route

•Uniform four-fold CeO2 dendrites were prepared by thermal decomposition of precursor.•Hydrazine hydrate played unique role in the formation of four-fold shape precursor.•The dendritic pattern of precursor remained after calcined at 500 °C for 6 h.

Highly uniform four-fold shape CeO2 dendrites were successfully prepared in large quantities through a thermal decomposition of precursor approach. The precursor with an average size of 10 μm was prepared from the reaction of Ce(NH4)2(NO3)6 with CO(NH2)2 at 160 °C in a water–N2H4 complex solution. The influence of the N2H4 on the dendrites formation was discussed. The dendritic pattern of precursor almost remained in the as-prepared product. The present work provided an example for the synthesis of dendritic structures through properly selection of the reaction conditions, which were independent of any surfactants or templates.