Texturation of nanocrystalline CeO2-based materials in the presence of poly-γ-benzyl-l-glutamate

Abstract

Cerium oxide-based materials with original textures have been obtained by using a polypeptide molecule: poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate (PBLG) as a template. Different types of inorganic precursors (cerium alkoxides or organically functionalised CeO₂ nanoparticles) were used to modify the different interactions with the polypeptide template. Homogeneous macrotextures shaped with coral-like, helical or macroporous sieve morphologies are obtained. These latter, macroporous CeO₂-based materials that keep the properties linked with the crystallinity of the particles can be produced both as gels and thin films with pores aligned perpendicularly to the surface.