Output details

Control of oxygen vacancies and Ce+3 concentrations in doped ceria nanoparticles via the selection of lanthanide element

Research has determined how impurities in the industrially important catalyst and phosphor cerium oxide (ceria) alter its material properties. Using other lanthanide elements that have positive association energies, we caused a decrease in the bandgap energy and an enhancement of the fluorescence intensity to make a more chemically and optically active form of ceria. We also demonstrated ceria doped with lanthanide elements with negative association energies that exhibit the opposite properties. Funded by the Virginia Tech - MENA program and in collaboration with US start-up MW Photonics, that is working to commercialize the results.