Ce-doped nano-α-Fe2O3 was successfully synthesized via the hydrothermal method. The properties of the prepared particles were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical methods. It was found that the Ce element can be doped into the α-Fe2O3 lattice resulting in lattice distortion, which can refine the grain and improve the crystal surface's integrity significantly. In addition, doping of Ce element can shorten the Fe-O bond length in the α-Fe2O3 crystal, cause a blue shift of the stretching vibration band, enhance binding energy of Fe-O and the chemical stability of the α-Fe2O3 crystal.
Keywords: Ce-doping; chemical stability; composite; nano-α-Fe2O3.