Template electrosyntesis of CeO2 nanotubes

Abstract

Nanotube arrays of CeO2 were produced in a single step by potentiostatic electrochemical deposition from a non-aqueous electrolyte, using anodic alumina membrane templates. The CeO2 nanotubes showed a polycrystalline structure, and they were assembled in the membrane nanochannels. The nanotubes had somewhat uniform diameters, with an average external value of about 210 nm, and a maximum length of about 60 μm; the latter parameter was controlled by the electrodeposition time. Each single nanotube was found to consist of crystalline grains having a size of about 3 nm. Raman analysis shows that these CeO2 nanotubes are suitable for catalytic applications.