Formation of mesoporous nanocrystalline ceria from cerium nitrate, acetate or acetylacetonate

Ceria nanopowders with a crystallite size of 5-20 nm have been prepared by the sol-gel method using cerium (III) nitrate, acetate or acetylacetonate as cerium source. Dimethyloctylamine, monoethanolamine, or tetraethylammonium hydroxide were used as low molecular weight stabilizers. In all cases ceria obtained have a mesoporous structure with pore diameter 3-5 nm. It is shown how the initial salt and stabilizer significantly affect the physical-chemical properties of the obtained ceria powders. Also the temperature of CO full conversion was demonstrated not to be dependent on particle size, surface area, or pore size.