Preparation of nanocrystalline ceria particles by sonochemical and microwave assisted heating methods

Nanocrystalline ceria (CeO2) particles have been successfully prepared via sonochemical and microwave assisted heating routes from aqueous solutions containing (NH4)(2)Ce(NO3)(6), hexamethylenetetramine and poly ( ethylene glycol)-19000 ( PEG). The products were characterized by techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller nitrogen adsorption and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy. Analysis of the results showed that the products had uniform shape, narrow size distribution and displayed conspicuous quantum size effects.