Cerium Nanophases from Cerium Ammonium Nitrate

Ceria nanomaterials with facile Ce III/IV redox behavior are used in sensing, catalytic, and therapeutic applications, where inclusion of Ce III has been correlated with reactivity. Understanding assembly pathways of CeO 2 nanoparticles (NC-CeO 2 ) in water has been challenged by “blind” synthesis, including rapid assembly/precipitation promoted by heat or strong base. Here, we identify a layered phase denoted Ce–I with a proposed formula Ce IV (OH) 3 (NO 3 )· x H 2 O ( x ≈ 2.5), obtained by adding electrolytes to aqueous cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) to force precipitation. Ce–I represents intermediate hydrolysis species between dissolved CAN and NC-CeO 2, where CAN is a commonly used Ce IV compound that exhibits unusual aqueous and organic solubility. Ce–I features Ce–(OH) 2 –Ce units, representing the first step of hydrolysis toward NC-CeO 2 formation, challenging prior assertions about Ce IV hydrolysis. Structure/composition of poorly crystalline Ce–I was corroborated by a pair distribution function, Ce-L3 XAS (X-ray absorption spectroscopy), compositional analysis, and 17 O nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Formation of Ce–I and its transformation to NC-CeO 2 is documented in solution by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and in the solid-state by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction. Morphologies identified by TEM support form factor models for SAXS analysis, evidencing the incipient assembly of Ce–I . Finally, two morphologies of NC-CeO 2 are identified. Sequentially, spherical NC-CeO 2 particles coexist with Ce–I, and asymmetric NC-CeO 2 with up to 35% Ce III forms at the expense of Ce–I, suggesting direct replacement.