Synthesis and characterization of Sm3+-doped CeO2 powders

Sm3+-doped CeO2 (denoted as Ce1-xSmxO2) powders with different morphologies were successfully synthesized via a precursor-growth-calcination approach, in which precursor was first synthesized by a hydrothermal method and Ce1-xSmxO2 powders were finally obtained through a calcination process. The products were characterized with X-ray diffractometry(XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results reveal that the Ce1-xSmxO2 powders obtained by calcining the precursors prepared in the absence and presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) exhibit bundle- and sphere-like morphology, respectively. The possible growth process was proposed by preparing a series of intermediate morphologies during the shape evolution of CeO2 based on the SEM image observation. It is also found that the luminescence intensity of bundle-like Ce1-xSmxO2 is enhanced in comparison with that of sphere-like one due to its special morphology.