title: Deep eutectic-solvothermal synthesis of nanostructured ceria.
abstract: Ceria is a technologically important material with applications in catalysis, emissions control and solid-oxide fuel cells. Nanostructured ceria becomes profoundly more active due to its enhanced surface area to volume ratio, reactive surface oxygen vacancy concentration and superior oxygen storage capacity. Here we report the synthesis of nanostructured ceria using the green Deep Eutectic Solvent reline, which allows morphology and porosity control in one of the less energy-intensive routes reported to date. Using wide Q-range liquid-phase neutron diffraction, we elucidate the mechanism of reaction at a molecular scale at considerably milder conditions than the conventional hydrothermal synthetic routes. The reline solvent plays the role of a latent supramolecular catalyst where the increase in reaction rate from solvent-driven pre-organization of the reactants is most significant. This fundamental understanding of deep eutectic-solvothermal methodology will enable future developments in low-temperature synthesis of nanostructured ceria, facilitating its large-scale manufacturing using green, economic, non-toxic solvents.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies, Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Oliver S
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5612-9343
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies, Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Edler
authors.affiliation: ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Bowron
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torrente-Murciano