The surfactant-assisted synthesis of CeO2 nanowires and their catalytic performance for CO oxidation

CeO2 nanowires were synthesized via a facile synthesis method using PEO–PPO–PEO (P123) as the surfactant. Thermo gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission election microscopy(TEM), selected election diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH), were employed to characterize the samples. The obtained CeO2 nanowires have the diameters of 10–50 nm, the lengths of up to several micrometers, and some mesopores on the surface. CO conversion was used as a catalytic test reaction revealing that the activity of the nanowires was substantially higher than that of the commercial CeO2.

Graphical abstractThe possible formation mechanism of the CeO2 nanowires attributed to nanoparticles layer-by-layer assembly and the Ostwald ripening process.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► CeO2 nanowires were synthesized using PEO–PPO–PEO as the surfactant. ► The formation mechanism attributed to self-assembly and the Ostwald ripening ► The surfactant, temperature and time were the major factors to form CeO2 nanowires. ► CeO2 nanowires show superior catalytic activity for CO oxidation.