Synthesis and characterization of Ce_1-xGd_xO _2-δ nanorods

Single crystalline Ce_1-xGd_xO_2-δ nanorods with x = 0.05 and 0.1 as well as x = 0 were synthesized by a sol-gel process without using any template and/or applying high pressure. The nanorods grow preferentially along the [110] direction regardless of the dopant concentration. The diameter and the length of the synthesized nanorods range from 10 to 50 nm and from 200 to 700 nm, respectively. The length of the nanorods decreases with increasing dopant concentration. The role of the surfactant as a structure-directing agent is critical to the growth of Ce _1-xGd_xO_2-δ nanorods.