Facile preparation of 3D interconnected macroporous CeF3.

CeF 3 is largely used due to its technological importance for applications in various domains such as photonics, sensors, energy and catalysis and its nanostructuration represents a real challenge. In this paper, we report on the novel and environmentally friendly synthetic route of monodisperse CeF 3 nanoparticles (NP) with a diameter of about 10 nm and a high surface area (≈130 m2 g−1) by a surfactant-free aqueous precipitation route at room temperature (yield ≈ 90%). The dispersion of the NP as a stable colloidal suspension allows to prepare for the first time 3D interconnected macroporous CeF 3 through the assembly of as-prepared NP and home-made poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) beads as template. These Organized Porous Inorganic Fluorides (OPIF) materials have been deeply characterized at different synthesis stages by means of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N 2 sorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. CeF 3 OPIF present a macroporosity (pore diameter ≈ 200 nm) as well as well as intergranular mesoporosity emerging from the voids between the CeF 3 NP (D TEM ≈ 7 nm) composing the OPIF walls resulting in a surface area of 33 m2 g−1. The thermal stability under nitrogen of the CeF 3 crystal structure is increased for the 3D interconnected macroporous materials in comparison with the NP as the CeF 3 crystal structure remains stable until 550 °C for CeF 3 OPIF and only 400 °C for CeF 3 NP. Finally, the porous structuration of CeF 3 materials considerably slows down the crystallite growth during thermal treatment under nitrogen. The crystallite size of CeF 3 NP constantly increases from 10 nm (120 °C) to 30 nm (420 °C). At the opposite, the crystallite size of CeF 3 OPIF remains unchanged until 460 °C (17 nm). [Display omitted] • CeF 3 nanoparticles (NP) obtained by a surfactant-free aqueous precipitation route. • Preparation of 3D interconnected macroporous CeF 3. • Thermal stability of the crystal structure increased for macroporous CeF 3 vs. NP. • Porous structuration of CeF 3 slows down the crystal growth during thermal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]