Synthesis and Characterisation of Sm Doped CeO2 Nanoparticles Through Hydrothermal Method for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Applications

Rare earth Sm doped Cerium Oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles have been synthesized by conventional hydrothermal method. In this report, Samaria doped ceria solid solutions were prepared by homogeneous precipitation with hexamethylenetetramine using water or mixtures of water/alcohol as solvent. Cerium (III) nitrate (Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O), Samarium (III) nitrate (Sm(NO₃)₃·6H₂O) and hexamethylenetetramine ((CH₂)6N₄) were used as starting materials. The Sm doped CeO₂ fine nano particles of size 10-50 nm were obtained by hydrothermal synthesis using the as prepared solid solution. The thermal behavior of the precursor material was studied by thermogravimetry from 25°C to 1000°C. Structural characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction using Cu Kα radiation in the 10°-70° range with 0.05 step sizes and counting time of 5s. Crystallite size values and nano-micro structures were calculated by the Scherrer’s equation and Scanning Electron Microscopy respectively.