CeO۲ nanocubes@TiO۲ core-shell nanocomposite: Synthesis, structural and morphological characterization

This study synthesized CeO۲ nanocubes, TiO۲ nanoparticles, and CeO۲ nanocube@TiO۲ core-shell nanocomposite via afacile hydrothermal approach assisted by the Stöber method. The surface morphologies, crystal plane, and texturalproperties of the prepared samples were investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive analysis of x-ray (EDAX), and elemental mapping and nitrogen physisorption (according toBET isotherm) techniques. The XRD patterns showed that all diffractions of the CeO۲ nanocubes can be indexed to thepure cubic fluorite structure (JCPDF #۰۴-۰۵۹۳) and confirmed the pure anatase phase of the obtained TiO۲nanoparticles (JCPDS #۲۱-۱۲۷۲). The SEM images indicated the cubic morphology for CeO۲ and core-shell structurefor CeO۲ nanocube@TiO۲ nanocomposite. The EDAX patterns showed the presence of Ce, O, and Ti atoms in thesamples. The results indicated that TiO۲ nanoparticles were dispersed on the outer surface of the CeO۲ nanocubes andformed the core-shell nanostructure.