Template-free hydrothermal synthesis and characterisation of single crystalline Ce(OH)CO3 and CeO2 with spindle-like structures

Single crystalline Ce(OH)CO₃ and CeO₂ with spindle-like structures were synthesised by a facile hydrothermal synthesis method. Then the effect of reaction time and concentration of cerium precursor on the formation and morphologies of Ce(OH)CO₃ and CeO₂ were further investigated. The products were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the single crystalline Ce(OH)CO₃ with spindle-like structures could be obtained at 120°C for 8°h. The present method shows an easy process without high reaction temperature, long reaction time, surfactant and template to attain final Ce(OH)CO₃ products. Furthermore, single crystalline CeO₂ with spindle-like structures had been fabricated by a oxidation process at 600°C for 2°h using Ce(OH)CO₃, with spindle-like structures as the precursor. Meanwhile, the single crystalline spindle-like CeO₂ shows a high catalytic activity on CO conversion.