Fe-Loaded CeO2 Nanosized Prepared by Simple Co-Precipitation Route

Abstract

FeCe nanoparticles were synthesized by simple co-precipitation method using Iron chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3.6H2O) and cerium chloride (CeCl2•5H2O) as precursors in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant. The samples were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibration sampling magnetometer (VSM), electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) at different temperatures. The XRD results showed that Fe-doped CeO2 was single-phased with a cubic structure. SEM images showed the rod-shaped particles of as-prepared sample in the range size of 40-80 nm and annealed smallest one around 15 nm in diameter at 500oC for 3 h. The TEM studies revealed the squared-like shaped nanosized particles. The sharp peaks in the FTIR spectrum determined the element of Fe-Ce nanoparticles. The EDS spectra showed peaks of iron and cerium with less impurity in the prepared samples. The result of magnetic measurements showed a coercive field and saturated magnetization around 1650 G and 0.04 emu/g for as-prepared samples, respectively.