Hierarchically mesostructured doped CeO2 with potential for solar-cell use

Many properties provided by supramolecular chemistry, nanotechnology and catalysis only appear in solids exhibiting large surface areas and regular porosity at the nanometre scale1-4. In nanometre-sized particles, the ratio of the number of atoms in the surface to the number in the bulk is much larger than for micrometre-sized materials, and this can lead to novel properties. Here we report the preparation of a hierarchically structured mesoporous material from nanoparticles of CeO2 of strictly uniform size. The synthesis involves self-assembly of these 5-nm CeO2 pre-treated nanoparticles in the presence of a structure directing agent (poly(alkylene oxide) block polymer). The walls of this hexagonal structured CeO2 material are formed from the primary nanoparticles. The material possesses large pore volumes, high surface areas, and marked thermal stability, allowing it to be easily doped after synthesis whilst maintaining textural and mechanical integrity. It also exhibits a photovoltaic response, which is directly derived from the nanometric particle size-normal CeO2 does not show this response. We have constructed operational organic-dye-free solar cells using nanometric ceria particles (in both mesostructured or amorphous forms) as the active component, and find efficiencies that depend on the illuminating power.