nanocrystalline particles of cerium oxide (ceo2) have been prepared by the chemical precipitation method using cerium nitrate and urea with a molar ratio of 1:2. the results revealed that the formation of ceo2 fine particles is influenced by molar ratio of metal nitrates to fuel. well faceted ceo2 nanoparticles, were synthesized by thermal-assisted dissociation method at reflux temperature in a...

The interaction of gold with CeO2(111) layer was investigated with photeelectron spectroscopy (PES) and by means of resonant photoelectron spectroscopy (RPES). Gold was deposited in steps onto a 1.5 nm thick CeO2(111) layer, epitaxially grown on a Cu(111) substrate. The RPES showed a partial Ce → Ce reduction, observed as a resonant enhancement of the 4f level of the Ce species. This can be exp...

We investigated the evolution of the electronic structure of cerium oxide ultrathin epitaxial films during reduction and oxidation processes using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering at the Ce L3 absorption edge, a technique sensitive to the electronic configurations at the 4f levels and in the 5d band thanks to its high energy resolution. We used thermal treatments in high vacuum and in oxygen...

Interactions of nanoparticles with biological matter-both somatically and in nature-draw scientists' attention. Nanoparticulate systems are believed to be our saviors, acting as versatile drug delivery vehicles. However, they can also cause life-threatening bodily damage. One of the most important properties of nanocrystalline cerium dioxide is its antioxidant activity, which decreases the abun...

To enable the transition away from a fossil-fuel-based energy economy, it is essential to address, in addition to energy extraction from sustainable resources, the problem of energy storage. We pursue in this work a storage strategy that relies on the capacity of selected nonstoichiometric metal oxides to uptake and release oxygen. Specifically, doped cerium oxide (ceria), a relatively abundant...

The first example of a molecular cerium vanadium oxide photocatalyst is presented. A cerium vanadium oxide cluster, (nBu4N)2[(Ce(dmso)3)2V(IV)V(V)11O33Cl] × 2DMSO (1), was obtained by bottom-up self-assembly. The compound exhibits high visible-light photooxidative activity towards indigo with quantum efficiencies >10%. Initial mechanistic studies of the photooxidation reaction are presented. Th...

Experimentally, Ce2O3 films are used to study cerium oxide in its fully or partially reduced state, as present in many applications. We have explored the space of low energy Ce2O3 nanofilms using structure prediction and density functional calculations, yielding more than 30 distinct nanofilm structures. First, our results help to rationalize the roles of thermodynamics and kinetics in the prep...

The diverse abilities of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) have encouraged researchers to pursue CONPs as a therapeutic agent to treat a number of diseases, including cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown CONPs to be toxic to cancer cells, inhibit invasion, and sensitize cancer cells to radiation therapy. However, CONPs display minimal toxicity to normal tissues and provide protectio...