Synthesis of CeO2 hollow nanospheres via redox reaction based self-templating approach

•Mono-dispersed CeO2 hollow nanospheres of 50–200 nm are obtainable and controlled.•The CeO2 hollow nanospheres are morphologically uniform.•The CeO2 hollow nanospheres are large in surface area (61 m2/g).•A redox mechanism was proposed for evolution of CeO2 hollow structure.

Mono-dispersed CeO2 hollow nanospheres with the size in the 50–200 nm range were fabricated at room temperature by a facile etching approach based on the redox reaction between CeO2 solid nanospheres of certain size (as self-template) and FeSO4 (as etching agent). The internal diameter of the CeO2 hollow nanostructure gradually increases with extending reaction time. The obtained CeO2 materials are morphologically uniform, with well-defined hollow structure and large surface area of 61 m2/g (the solid counterpart is 18 m2/g). A redox mechanism was proposed to explain the evolution of CeO2 hollow nanospheres from the solid precursors. The present methodology is thought to be versatile for preparing hollow nanostructures of other oxides.

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