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Synthesis and Characterisation of Nanocrystalline Ceria Powder (CeO2) By Microwave Induced Combustion Method

P. Suriakala, K. Tamilarasan and M. Kanagasabapathy

Nanocrystalline Ceria powder was profitably synthesized by microwave induced combustion route using different composition of cerium nitrate as a precursor and glycine and sorbitol as a fuel. The powders were investigated by XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy measurements. In our experiment, our sample CeO2 powders showed that the average crystallite size ranged from 25 to 4 nm and lattice parameter ranged from 5.4218 to 5.4615 Å and also compared with Williamson-Hall plot and Nelson-Riley plot, respectively. This variation in size and lattice parameter was due to preparation conditions such as fuel ratio and rate of reaction and also structural distortion. There is an increase in micro strain calculated from Stoke’s and Wilson formula with the small crystallite size. The structural morphology was analyzed by SEM and TEM. FTIR spectrum was purely matched with XRD spectrum. The optical band gaps of the powders were observed in the range of 3.04 to 2.58 eV. Lattice contraction with decreasing particle size, strongly indicating surface tension plays a major role.