Surface properties of ceria synthesised using Triton-X based reverse microemulsions

Abstract

The effect of the tail length of Triton-X surfactants on the surface properties of ceria prepared by means of reversed micelles and Ce(OⁱPr)₄ has been systematically studied. Generally, solids with increased surface areas (up to 136 m² g⁻¹) were synthesised. It was shown that the tail length strongly affects the surface characteristics. Further studies were carried out using UV-Vis, ATR-FTIR, XRD and TGA/DSC studies of the precursor gels as well as N₂-isothermal adsorption BET, XRD, FT-IR, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance and SEM investigations of the final solids samples. An interaction mechanism between the ceria precursor molecules and the polar tail of the reversed Triton X micelles and the formation of ceria (CeO₂) particles in the aqueous nucleus of the reversed microemulsions is proposed.