Synthesis of nanocrystalline ceria thin films by low-temperature thermal decomposition of Ce-propionate

摘要: Abstract Thin films of Ce-propionate (thickness below 20 nm) have been deposited by spin coating and pyrolysed into ceria at temperatures 200 °C. After 1 h thermal treatment, no signature the vibrational modes is detected infrared spectroscopy, indicating that decomposition has completed. The resulting are nanocrystalline as revealed X-ray diffraction (average grain size 2–2.5 nm) confirmed microscopy. They transparent in visible region show characteristic band gap absorption 400 nm. A direct energy 3.50 ± 0.05 eV deduced irrespective pyrolysis temperature (160, 180 200 °C).