CeO 2 and CeO 2 :Pr nanocrystalline powders prepared by the polymeric precursor method: Yellow and red pigments with tunable color

Abstract The development of stable and reproducible inorganic pigments is noteworthy for industrial applications mainly considering more intense shades and low toxicity. Among the various candidates to substitute non‐hazardous red and yellow pigments, CeO 2 and CeO 2 :Pr have been attracting attention because of their opacity and high‐temperature stability besides being environmental‐friendly and health‐friendly. In this study, nanostructured CeO 2 and CeO 2 :Pr samples were synthesized using the polymeric precursor method and structural and optical characterizations were performed. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the morphology of CeO 2 nanoparticles in which the particle size ranges from 22 to 28 nm as a function of the annealing temperature. Pr‐doping does not show influence on the particle size. XRD results show that CeO 2 and CeO 2 :Pr samples crystallize in the cubic fluorite lattice with Fm 3 m space group. Raman spectra show the fluorite F 2g mode, confirming the XRD results. With Pr‐doping and the annealing of the samples, two bands are observed between 550 and 600 cm −1 , which are related to the defects in the fluorite structure associated with oxygen vacancies. XPS spectra reveal an increase in the ratio of Ce 3+ ions depending on the annealing temperature and Pr‐doping. This increase is associated with the carbon removal from the lattice by annealing. This behavior causes a change in the hue of the powders as the annealing temperature increases. According to diffuse reflectance and colorimetric measurements, CeO 2 shows a light‐yellow color due to the O 2p­Ce 4f transitions whose b* parameter mainly decreases with annealing, becoming almost white. The CeO 2 :Pr sample exhibits a red‐orange color because of the electronic transitions between 4f 2 → 5d 1 states of Pr 3+ . Upon annealing, L* and b* parameters decrease, resulting in a red‐brown shade. The charge compensation or charge transfer is responsible for the modification of the hue of these pigments.