Synthesis and microstructural characterization of Ce1-xTb(x)O2-delta (0 < or = x < or = 1) nano-powders

Ce1-xTb(x)O2-delta nano-powders have been successfully synthesized by using the ammonium carbonate coprecipitation method in an entire compositional range of 0 < or = x < or = 1 by adjusting the preparation conditions. Studies of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the powders with different compositions mainly consist of fluorite structure. In addition, a small amount of secondary phase was observed in the powders with x > or = 0.7. TEM observation indicated that the secondary phase could have a superstructure formed by a structural modulation of the fluorite structure.