Synthesis and Characterization of Sm3+ Doped CeO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Samaria-doped ceria powders were prepared with varying doping concentrations (0.05, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0). The nanopowders were synthesized using inorganic salts of cerium ammonium nitrate and samarium nitrate. Cerium ammonium nitrate was used as the precursor for ceria and samarium nitrate as the precursor for Sm3+. Dodecylamine was used as surfactant. The characteristics of the sample were investigated by X-ray diffraction studies, DSC-TG analysis, UV, IR, SEM images and BET surface area measurement. From the thermal studies the mass loss was found to be 16 %. XRD data showed the as-prepared sample has cubic fluorite structure and the broad peaks implied that the crystallite size is small (~ 8 nm). 2 mol% Sm3+ doped CeO2 sample heated at 500C possesses high BET surface area of 75 m2/g. FT-IR results showed that the nanopowders heated at 500oC was free from surfactant