In situ Synthesis of Nano-CeO₂ Composite with Chitosan

Nanosized cerium oxide (CeO₂) particles were prepared by co-precipitation using chitosan as a template, cerium(III) nitrate and cerium(IV) sulfate as starting substances, and aqueous ammonia as a precipitating agent. According to powder X-ray diffraction data, cerianite with face-centered cubic phase is formed in the reaction systems. The size of the coherent scattering regions is not more than ⁓3 nm. Fourier transform IR spectroscopy data indicate to interaction of polymer molecules with the inorganic component. The shift of N–H absorption bands for composites containing Ce(III) and Ce(IV) compared to those of chitosan indicates that amino groups interact with CeO₂ particles loaded in the polymer. The use of chitosan as a matrix for the synthesis of CeO₂ nanoparticles showed that this approach is more economical and facile to produce nanomaterials for various applications.