Spontaneous self-assembly of cerium oxide nanoparticles to nanorods through supraaggregate formation

Self-assembly of cerium oxide nanoparticles to nanorods is reported. Such nanorods have an aspect ratio of 6 with a diameter of approximately 40 nm. The formation of cylindrical supraaggregates and their subsequent growth by preferential assembling of ceria nanocrystallites along the longitudinal direction was proposed to be the probable mechanism of spontaneous self-assembly of nanorods. The supraaggregate formation was facilitated by influencing the local curvature of the micelle surface in the presence of nitrate ions as a precursor solution. The nanorods were characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction for their morphology, chemistry, and crystal structure.