One-step synthesis and characterizations of cerium oxide nanoparticles in an ambient temperature via Co-precipitation method

We report the simple Co-precipitation method for the synthesis of Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (NPs) in an ambient temperature. We have taken the Cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate (Ce(NO3)3.6H2O) and Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the precursors. The obtained NPs were analyzed using the UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The obtained results signify that UV-Vis spectrum exhibited a well-defined absorption peak at 274 nm and the estimated energy gap (Eg) is 4.05 eV. The FT-IR analysis provides the supporting evidence for the presence of bonding of O-H, nitrates, alcohols and O-Ce-O vibrations. The XRD result reveals that the synthesized CeO2 NPs was crystallite with cubic phase structure and the estimated average crystallite size of CeO2 NPs using Scherer's and W-H method was significantly different due to their assumptions. Further, it is purposed to study their photocatalytic biological activities.