Synthesis, phase transformation and applications of CeCO3OH: A review

CeCO3OH has a unique crystal structure and excellent optical, electronic and catalytic properties, which has been widely investigated for many applications. Interestingly, ceria obtained from CeCO3OH has a morphology that is similar to that of the precursor, and the CeO2-based products obtained from CeCO3OH exhibit outstanding properties, such as catalytic performances, owing to their designed morphology and oxygen vacancies (OVs). To introduce CeCO3OH into a wider range of potential researchers, we first systematically review the physico-chemical properties, synthesis, reaction and morphology tuning mechanism of CeCO3OH, and summarize the conversion behavior from CeCO3OH to ceria. Then, we thoroughly survey the applications of CeCO3OH and its conversion products. Suggestions for further investigations of CeCO3OH are also made in this review. It is hoped that the exhaustive compilation of the valuable properties and considerable potential investigations of CeCO3OH will promote further applications of CeCO3OH and CeO2-based functional materials.