Controlling diameter in cerium oxide nanowires obtained by electrospinning

Dispersions of polymer and cerium acetate were deposited by electrospinning as nanofibers onto a metallic target, with the concentration of the precursor varied from 15% down to 3% (in weight). The different samples of deposited material were then transformed into CeO₂ nanowires by thermal treatment at temperatures ranging from 350 to 950 °C. Raman Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction data indicate a full conversion into cerium dioxide for all mass ratios without indicating other stoichiometries. Scanning Electron Microscopy shows the formation of nanowires, with diameters varying from (81 ± 5) nm to (200 ± 10) nm for cerium acetate concentrations ranging from 3%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. Transmission Electron Microscopy reveals that the nanowires are polycrystalline, and nanocrystal average sizes are compatible with the crystalline coherence length extracted from X-Ray Diffraction. The Thermal Treatment temperature does not seem to affect the nanowire average diameter; thus, this fabrication method's main control parameter for tailoring the CeO₂ nanowire diameter by this fabrication method is the cerium acetate concentration within the deposition solution.