Facile deposition of nanodimensional ceria particles and their assembly into conformal films at liquid-liquid interface with a phase transfer catalyst

Crystalline nanodimensional particulates of ceria have been obtained in the form of conformal thin films at the interface of two immiscible liquids. For the first time, interfacial deposition has been accomplished by the use of a simple phase transfer process eliminating the need to synthesize metal precursors. The obtained films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, as well as low and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. We envisage that the study would simplify the delivery of ions to the interface and pave the way for widespread application of this emerging deposition technique. © 2009 American Chemical Society.