X-Ray Peak Broadening and Raman Spectroscopy Studies of Ce0.08Fe0.02O2-δ Nanoparticles Prepared by a Sol-Gel-Based Method
Fe-doped (Ce0.98Fe0.02O2−δ) cerium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol-gel-based method at 1000 °C during different calcination time (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5h). The effect of calcination time on microstructure and structural properties of the Ce0.98Fe0.02O2−δ nanoparticles was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy measurements. Analysis of the XRD pattern shows that all samples exhibited a single-phase fluorite structurewith lattice parameters ranging from 0.540991 Å (1.0h) to0.540635 Å (2.5h). Raman spectroscopy also confirms that the Fe atoms successfully displaced some of the Ce atoms in the CeO2 lattice without forming any impure phases. XRD and Raman spectroscopy results showed that both crystallite size and the particle size increased as the calcination time increased from around 36 nm (1.0h) to 64 nm (2.5h).