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Hierarchically mesostructured doped CeO2 with potential for solar-cell use

Nature Materials volume 3, pages 394–397 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Many properties provided by supramolecular chemistry, nanotechnology and catalysis only appear in solids exhibiting large surface areas and regular porosity at the nanometre scale1,2,3,4. In nanometre-sized particles, the ratio of the number of atoms in the surface to the number in the bulk is much larger than for micrometre-sized materials, and this can lead to novel properties. Here we report the preparation of a hierarchically structured mesoporous material from nanoparticles of CeO2 of strictly uniform size. The synthesis involves self-assembly of these 5-nm CeO2 pre-treated nanoparticles in the presence of a structure directing agent (poly(alkylene oxide) block polymer). The walls of this hexagonal structured CeO2 material are formed from the primary nanoparticles. The material possesses large pore volumes, high surface areas, and marked thermal stability, allowing it to be easily doped after synthesis whilst maintaining textural and mechanical integrity. It also exhibits a photovoltaic response, which is directly derived from the nanometric particle size—normal CeO2 does not show this response. We have constructed operational organic-dye-free solar cells using nanometric ceria particles (in both mesostructured or amorphous forms) as the active component, and find efficiencies that depend on the illuminating power.

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Figure 1: Small-angle X-ray diffraction pattern of material formed by self-assembly of CeO2 nanoparticles under acidic conditions, before and after calcination.
Figure 2: Representative TEM images of CeO2 samples prepared by nanoparticle self-assembly under acidic conditions.
Figure 3: Nanostructured material.
Figure 4: Optical spectra.
Figure 5: Photogeneration of electrons and holes.
Figure 6: Comparison of the charge current and spectral response of CeO2 nanoparticles and TiO2.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología, CICYT (MAT2003-07945-C02-01), for financial support, and A. Luque and I. Tobias of the Instituto de Energía Solar de Madrid for technical assistance and for providing calibrated solar cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Tecnología Química, UPV-CSIC, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Avda. de los Naranjos s/n, Valencia, 46022, Spain

    Avelino Corma, Pedro Atienzar & Hermenegildo García

  2. Rhodia Recherches, 52 Rue de la Haie Coq, Aubervilliers, 93306, Cedex, France

    Jean-Yves Chane-Ching

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  1. Avelino Corma
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Correspondence to Avelino Corma.

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Corma, A., Atienzar, P., García, H. et al. Hierarchically mesostructured doped CeO2 with potential for solar-cell use. Nature Mater 3, 394–397 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1129

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