One-Step Low Temperature Synthesis of CeO₂ Nanoparticles Stabilized by Carboxymethylcellulose

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Inorganic Chemistry

Background:

• Nanoceria (CeO2 nanoparticles) offer unique properties for various applications.
• Developing scalable and reproducible synthesis methods for nanoceria is crucial.
• Stabilization of nanoparticles is essential to prevent aggregation and maintain desired characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, one-pot synthesis method for cerium-containing nanocomposites.
• To characterize the synthesized nanocomposites and understand nanoparticle formation.
• To evaluate the scalability and reproducibility of the developed technique.

Main Methods:

• One-pot reaction performed at room temperature.
• Characterization using microscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and IR spectroscopy.
• Analysis of nanoparticle size, shape, and crystal structure (CeO2).

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles stabilized by carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).
• Obtained spherical nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2-3 nm, irrespective of reagent ratios.
• Determined the crystal structure of the inorganic nanoparticles as CeO2.
• Proposed a dual stabilization mechanism involving CMC's carboxylate and hydroxyl groups.

Conclusions:

• The developed one-pot, room-temperature method is effective for synthesizing uniform CeO2 nanoparticles.
• The technique demonstrates excellent reproducibility and is suitable for large-scale production.
• The CMC stabilization ensures the formation of stable, small-sized nanoceria.