Gadolinium doped Ceria nanocrystals synthesized from mesoporous silica

Highly crystalline and thermally stable gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) particles have been synthesized by hard template route for the first time. This oxide is being recognized as an intermediate temperature (500–700(centigrate)C) electrolyte material for applications in solid-oxide fuel cells. The GDC particles show high crystallinity and nanometric size (2.83 ± 0.05 nm in diameter) and Raman analyses confirm the formation of the solid solution instead of a CeO2 and Gd2O3 mixture. EDX and EELS studies indicate a stoichiometry coherent with the Gd0.2Ce0.8O1.9 phase. The synthesized nanometric powder is expected to be used in solid oxide fuel cells as well as in the catalytic treatment of automobile exhaust fumes.