Deagglomeration treatment in the synthesis of doped-ceria nanoparticles via coprecipitation route

10 mol% Gd2O3-doped CeO2 (20GDC) nanoparticles have been synthesized via carbonate coprecipitation using ammonium carbonate as the precipitant. In order to alleviate the agglomeration of the nanoparticles during synthesis, ultrasonic and surfactants including sodium oleate and polyethylene glycol 400 were applied to disperse the precursor suspensions. It was found that the deagglomeration treatment to the precursor by ultrasonic and surfactants was effective in improving the size distribution and sinterability of the final 20GDC nanoparticles. The 20GDC nanoparticles resulted from the combined deagglomeration treatment reached to a relative density of above 99.5% after sintered at 1100 °C for 4 h.