Innovative Approaches to Oxide Nanosystems: CeO2-ZrO2 Nanocomposites by a Combined PE-CVD/Sol-Gel Route

A novel combined PE-CVD/sol±gel approach to oxide-based nanosystems is proposed and employed for the synthesis of CeO2±ZrO2nanocomposites.Themethodconsistsoftheplasma-enhanced(PE)CVDofceria(guest)onazirconiaxerogel ZrOx(OH)y(OR)z(host)preparedbysol±gel(SG)atatemperatureof200?C.Thesystemevolutionunderannealinginair (600 ?C and 900 ?C, 1 h) and its mutual relationships with the synthesis conditions were investigated in detail by a multi-tech- niquecharacterization.TheproposedsyntheticpathwayenablesthesynthesisofCeO2±ZrO2nanostructuredsystemsranging from composites to solid solutions, as a function of thermal treatment and Ce/Zr ratio as well. In this framework, particular attention is devoted to achieving an intimate Ce/Zr intermixing by exploiting the synergy between the SG xerogel properties (porosity, ±OH content) and the peculiar actions exerted by plasma (ablation/deposition, infiltration power). Such features enableanin-depthpenetrationofceriaintotheinnerzirconiaxerogellayersalreadyintheas-grownsystems.