High quality CeO2 nanocrystals stabilized by a double hydrophilic block copolymer

High quality monodisperse cerium(IV) oxide (CeO2) particles with a particle size less than 2 nm can be synthesized easily in large scale by a hydrothermal hydrolysis reaction at 120 °C using (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 as precursor in the presence of a double hydrophilic block copolymer. The nanoparticles show a strong blue emission with an intense peak at 425 nm. With dilution of the solution, an obvious violet emission was observed at room temperature with concentration-dependent blue-shift characteristics.