Mechanochemical synthesis of cerium orthophosphate

A facile, simple and rapid preparation method of cerium orthophosphate was presented. The synthesis of low-crystalline CePO4 occurred upon mixing of cerium (III) nitrate and sodium phosphate, and was an exchange-type reaction. The phase composition of the obtained powder was checked by the XRD and FTIR methods, indicating the presence of cerium phosphate. Further investigations on thermal behavior of the synthesized cerium salt had shown that the obtained orthophosphate crystallized at first in rhabdophane-type structure. It converted to monazite (monoclinic symmetry) during heating at the temperatures of above 600 ºC. Oxidation of Ce3+ to Ce4+ was avoided during the syntheses, as confirmed by the XPS experiments.