Regulatory mechanisms of Na2CO3 and NaCl on the micro-nano morphology of CeO2 in the flux method

YANG Zhipeng; GAN Xueping; LIU Ronghui

doi:10.19976/j.cnki.43-1448/TF.2025046

Materials Science and Engineering of Powder Metallurgy >

2025 , Vol. 30 >Issue 5: 456 - 470

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19976/j.cnki.43-1448/TF.2025046

Engineering and Technology

Regulatory mechanisms of Na₂CO₃ and NaCl on the micro-nano morphology of CeO₂ in the flux method

YANG Zhipeng ,
GAN Xueping ,
LIU Ronghui

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State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

Received date: 2025-05-16

Revised date: 2025-10-03

Online published: 2025-11-27

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Abstract

As an economically viable material with extensive applications, morphology regulation of CeO₂ has remained a critical challenge. This study developed a flux method for spheroidizing blocky CeO₂, with systematic investigation into the regulatory mechanisms of Na₂CO₃, NaCl, and their composite fluxes on CeO₂ morphology. The results reveal flux type and concentration can significantly affect the spheroidization process of CeO₂. Na₂CO₃ facilitates micro-scale (~5 μm) quasi-spherical particle evolution above 900 ℃ through chemically activated mechanisms combining Na⁺ lattice intercalation and oxygen vacancy compensation. Optimized spherical CeO₂ with sphericity index 0.80 is achieved at 1 000 ℃ when mass ratio of Na₂CO₃ and raw materials is 1.8∶10. Comparatively, NaCl-dominated systems generate nano-sized particles (500-800 nm) via physical fluxing effects but exhibit pronounced agglomeration. The composite flux system demonstrate antagonistic interactions between components, leading to degraded sphericity relative to single-component counterparts. This work confirms that process regulation can overcome intrinsic limitations of conventional solid-phase method morphology control. The Na₂CO₃-dominated system features operational simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and superior particle dispersibility, offering a scalable pathway for industrial synthesis of spherical CeO₂ with precisely tunable diameters (1-10 μm).

Key words： CeO₂; solid-phase method; sintering; flux; morphology control

Cite this article

YANG Zhipeng , GAN Xueping , LIU Ronghui . Regulatory mechanisms of Na₂CO₃ and NaCl on the micro-nano morphology of CeO₂ in the flux method[J]. Materials Science and Engineering of Powder Metallurgy, 2025 , 30(5) : 456 -470 . DOI: 10.19976/j.cnki.43-1448/TF.2025046

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