The Role of Cerium Valence in the Conversion Temperature of H$_2$Ti$_3$O$_7$ Nanoribbons to TiO$_2$-B and Anatase Nanoribbons, and Further to Rutile

CeO$_2$-TiO$_2$ is an important mixed oxide due to its catalytic properties, particularly in heterogeneous photocatalysis. This study presents a straightforward method to obtain 1D TiO$_2$ nanostructures decorated with CeO$_2$ nanoparticles at the surface. As the precursor, we used H$_2$Ti$_3$O$_7$ nanoribbons prepared from sodium titanate nanoribbons by ion exchange. Two cerium sources with an oxidation state of +3 and +4 were used to obtain mixed oxides. HAADF–STEM mapping of the Ce$^{4+}$-modified nanoribbons revealed a thin continuous layer at the surface of the H$_2$Ti$_3$O$_7$ nanoribbons, while Ce$^{3+}$ cerium ions intercalated partially between the titanate layers. The phase composition and morphology changes were monitored during calcination between 620 °C and 960 °C. Thermal treatment led to the formation of CeO$_2$ nanoparticles on the surface of the TiO$_2$ nanoribbons, whose size increased with the calcination temperature. The use of Ce$^{4+}$ raised the temperature required for converting H$_2$Ti$_3$O$_7$ to TiO$_2$-B by approximately 200 °C, and the temperature for the formation of anatase. For the Ce$^{3+}$ batch, the presence of cerium inhibited the conversion to rutile. ... mehrAnalysis of cerium oxidation states revealed the existence of both +4 and +3 in all calcined samples, regardless of the initial cerium oxidation state.