Synthesis of nanostructured ceria, zirconia and ceria–zirconia solid solutions using an ultrahigh surface area carbon material as a template

Nanostructured ceria, zirconia and ceria–zirconia solid solutions have been synthesized via an easy route and characterized by XRD, nitrogen physorption, Raman spectroscopy and TEM. The route involves two steps: the impregnation of ultrahigh surface area carbon materials with nitrate solutions of ceria and/or zirconia and burn-off to remove the carbon materials in a controlled oxidation atmosphere. The results show that the particle sizes of ceria, zirconia and ceria–zirconia solid solutions are about 5–10 nm. The results also show that zirconia is in the monoclinic phase and tetragonal phase and ceria is in a cubic phase with a fluorite structure.