Synthesis and Characterization of Luminescent Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Aims: Fluorescent cerium oxide (ceria) nanoparticles were developed through incorporation of erbium into the lattice. Catalytic properties and luminescent behavior are examined. Materials & methods: Cerium–erbium mixed oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the reverse micelles route. Purity, size, and composition were characterized. Catalytic properties were measured using a hydrogen peroxide assay, and the luminescence properties were determined by confocal microscopy. Results: The nanoparticles exhibited enhancement of the catalytic properties with increasing erbium content to 10 mole% in the cerium oxide lattice; and they demonstrated emission at 515 nm and 572.5 nm under 405 nm UV excitation in aqueous conditions. Conclusion: Erbium incorporation into ceria-based nanoparticles were developed, having catalytic properties similar to and better than purely synthesized ceria and luminescent properties under UV irradiation by confocal microscopy.

Keywords::

• catalysts/catalysis
• cerium
• cerium compounds
• colloids
• erbium
• erbium compounds
• luminescence

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Yi-Yang Tsai and Wolfgang Sigmund are authors of a patent on ceria nanoparticles and patent owner is University of Florida. The patent does not cover the new particles described in this work. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Additional information

Funding

Yi-Yang Tsai and Wolfgang Sigmund are authors of a patent on ceria nanoparticles and patent owner is University of Florida. The patent does not cover the new particles described in this work. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.