Electrochemical Synthesis for Flowerlike and Fusiform Christmas-Tree-like Cerium Hexacyanoferrate(II)

A facile electrochemical approach was developed for the controllable synthesis of cerium hexacyanoferrate(II) (CeHCF(II)) flowerlike and fusiform Christmas-tree-like microparticles. The composition, morphology, and structure of the as-prepared CeHCF(II) products were characterized by the techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formula of the prepared CeHCF(II) could be assigned to be KCe[Fe(CN)6]·4H2O. It was observed that the size and morphology of the CeHCF(II) microparticles were altered by electrodepositing potential and time, the molar ratio of Ce(NO3)3 and K3[Fe(CN)6], and the acidity of electrolyte. To the best of our knowledge, this morphologies of CeHCF(II) have not been reported before. The as-prepared CeHCF(II) microparticles showed good ultraviolet luminescent properties and high luminescent intensity.