Cerium Oxide CeO2 PLD Target

Introduction to CeO2 Thin Films

Cerium oxide (CeO2), also known as ceria, is a versatile material used in a variety of applications such as catalysis, energy storage, and electronics. In thin film form, CeO2 exhibits unique electronic properties that make it suitable for applications such as solid oxide fuel cells, sensors, and memory devices.

The electronic properties of CeO2 include high oxygen vacancy concentration, high ionic conductivity, and tunable electronic bandgap, making it useful in various electronic devices. CeO2 thin films also exhibit interesting optoelectrical properties such as high transparency in the visible and near-infrared regions, which makes it useful in transparent conductive electrodes for solar cells and flat panel displays.

Compared to other similar materials, such as ZrO2 and TiO2, CeO2 exhibits higher ionic conductivity and lower electronic conductivity, making it ideal for solid oxide fuel cell applications. The crystal structure of CeO2 is fluorite, with cubic symmetry and lattice parameter of 0.541 nm.

Typical substrates used for the epitaxial growth of CeO2 include yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), MgO, and LaAlO3. These substrates have a good lattice match with CeO2 and promote high-quality thin film growth.

Other similar thin film materials to CeO2 include:

• ZrO2
• TiO2
• HfO2
• Al2O3
• Gd2O3