Synthesis and dispersion of ceria(CeO₂) nanoparticles by solvothermal process

CeO₂ nanoparticles, employed in a lot of fields due to their excellent oxidation and reduction properties, are synthesized through a solvothermal process, and a high specific surface area is shown by controlling, among various process parameters in the solvothermal process, the type of solvent. The synthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles are about 11~13 nm in the crystallite size and their specific surface area is about 65.38~84.65 m²/g, depending on the amount of ethanol contained in the solvent for the solvothermal process; all synthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles shows a fluorite structure. The dispersibility and microstructure of the synthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles are investigated according to the species of dispersant and the pH value of the solution; an improvement in dispersibility is shown with the addition of dispersants and control of the pH. Various dispersing properties appear according to the dispersant species and pH in the solution with the synthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles, indicating that improved dispersing properties in the synthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles can be secured by applying dispersant and pH control simultaneously.