Preparation and characterization of ceria nanofibers obtained by electrospinning

Cerium oxide nanofibers have been of great interest in fundamental level study. We fabricated polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) and cerium nitrate nanofibers composite applying a mixed solution of PVP and cerium nitrate hydrate (Ce(NO3)3) with various cerium concentration from 8.87 to 35.5wt% by electrospinning process. Electrospinning method is a simple and cost-effective process to make nanoand submicro nanofiber fabrication. We applied 0.69 kV/cm of electric field between the capillary and a drum collector covered with aluminum foil. Cerium oxide nanofibers were obtained after calcination of PVP/Ce(NO3)3 nanofibers composite at 573, 873 and 1273K, which were chosen by thermal gravimetry analysis. The obtained nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). When the viscosity of the electrospinning solution was high named over 60 cP, only nano and submicro-sized cerium oxide fibers were collected. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was performed for investigation of the chemical nature of the obtained ceria nanofibers. After we calcined the PVP/ceria nanocomposites, metallic cerium was oxidized to cerium oxide including ceria.