Preparation and characterization of submicron-cerium oxide by hypergravity coprecipitation method

Submicron-cerium oxide particles were synthesized by applying hypergravity using ammonium bicarbonate (precipitant) and cerium nitrate hexahydrate (precursor). The influence of the concentration, pH, dispersant loading, flow rate, rotation speed of the hypergravity rotating bed, calcination temperature, and time on the cerium oxide particle size were examined by zeta potential, solid–liquid contact angle, thermo-gravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The cerium oxide particles were highly dispersed, with an average particle size of 200 nm. Calcining at 650 °C for 1.5 h afforded the smallest particles. The crystallite size and fraction crystallinity increased with prolonged calcination. Crystalline cerium dioxide grew along three crystal planes, forming a complete face-centered cube, affording high hardness and activity of the polishing powder. The optimal conditions were: cerium nitrate concentration: 0.7 mol/L, cerium nitrate/ammonium bicarbonate molar ratio: 1:3, dispersant mass fraction: 3%, cerium nitrate initial pH: 4–5; the precursor solution was adjusted to pH 9 with ammonia water. Hypergravity coprecipitation with 1.5 h calcination afforded submicron-sized cerium oxide with a uniform size distribution using ammonium bicarbonate in an industrially viable process. The simple and low-cost manufacturing process may enable the development of hypergravity-assisted chemical synthesis technology.