Effect of oxidizer to fuel molar ratio on particle size and DC conductivity of CeO2 nanoparticles

Cerium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by solution combustion method with varying the oxidizer (cerium nitrate hexa hydrate) to fuel (Glycine) molar ratio. The prepared samples were characterized by UV-visible spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDAX). XRD pattern reveals the formation of cubic fluorite structure of CeO2. It was observed that finest crystallites were found at extreme fuel-deficient condition and it is good enough to produce favorable powder characteristics. The average crystallite size was found to be 14.46 nm to 21.57 nm. The temperature dependent dc conductivity was carried out using Keithley source meter between the temperature range from 300K to 573K. From this study it was found that the conductivity increases with increase of temperature due to semiconducting behavior of CeO2 and it decreases with particle size due to increase in the energy band gap.