Comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural, electrical, and biological properties of CeO2 fluorite ceramics

Abstract A comprehensive comparative study was conducted on synthesized (CS) and commercially procured (CP) cerium oxide (CeO₂) samples, and evaluating their computational, structural, microstructural, biocompatibility, and electrical properties. First-principles computational studies revealed that...

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Main Authors: Raj Kumar, Vipin Kumar Gupta, Mohit Khosya, Sangeeta Singh, Upendra Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04843-2
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author Raj Kumar
Vipin Kumar Gupta
Mohit Khosya
Sangeeta Singh
Upendra Kumar
author_facet Raj Kumar
Vipin Kumar Gupta
Mohit Khosya
Sangeeta Singh
Upendra Kumar
author_sort Raj Kumar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A comprehensive comparative study was conducted on synthesized (CS) and commercially procured (CP) cerium oxide (CeO₂) samples, and evaluating their computational, structural, microstructural, biocompatibility, and electrical properties. First-principles computational studies revealed that CS exhibited greater volume optimization than CP, although both samples demonstrated a band gap of 2.4–2.5 eV, consistent with the semiconducting nature of CeO₂. The density of states analysis indicated a strong hybridization between Ce-4f and O-2p orbitals, with CS, displaying enhanced electronic density near the Fermi level. X-ray diffraction studies followed by Rietveld refinement confirmed the fluorite structure. Microstructural analysis showed dense, agglomerated morphologies in both samples. However, CS exhibited a higher oxygen content than CP, implying variation in defect concentrations. FTIR confirmed phase purity with characteristic Ce–O vibrations at 435 and 1631 cm¹, while Raman spectroscopy supported this by revealing the F₂g mode (~ 465 cm¹) typical of fluorite-structured CeO₂. Electrical impedance spectroscopy revealed higher ionic conductivity in CS, with a lower grain boundary blocking factor (αgb = 0.42) compared to CP (αgb = 0.62), likely due to differences in defect density and microstructure. Biocompatibility tests showed that CeO₂-300 (CS) had the highest inhibitory efficacy (IC₅₀ ≈ 65.94 µg/ml), followed by CeO₂-800 (≈ 74.1 µg/ml) and CeO₂-Pure (CP) (≈ 86.88 µg/ml), indicating the influence of synthesis on biological response. These results highlight the critical impact of synthesis methods on the biocompatibility and electrical performance of CeO₂ materials useful as solid electrolyte in IT-SOFCs application.
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spelling doaj-art-f9805dacd322482eb27eba8aaeff55b22025-08-20T02:05:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115112410.1038/s41598-025-04843-2Comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural, electrical, and biological properties of CeO2 fluorite ceramicsRaj Kumar0Vipin Kumar Gupta1Mohit Khosya2Sangeeta Singh3Upendra Kumar4Advanced Functional Materials Laboratory, Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology AllahabadAdvanced Functional Materials Laboratory, Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology AllahabadDepartment of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology DelhiAdvanced Functional Materials Laboratory, Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology AllahabadAdvanced Functional Materials Laboratory, Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology AllahabadAbstract A comprehensive comparative study was conducted on synthesized (CS) and commercially procured (CP) cerium oxide (CeO₂) samples, and evaluating their computational, structural, microstructural, biocompatibility, and electrical properties. First-principles computational studies revealed that CS exhibited greater volume optimization than CP, although both samples demonstrated a band gap of 2.4–2.5 eV, consistent with the semiconducting nature of CeO₂. The density of states analysis indicated a strong hybridization between Ce-4f and O-2p orbitals, with CS, displaying enhanced electronic density near the Fermi level. X-ray diffraction studies followed by Rietveld refinement confirmed the fluorite structure. Microstructural analysis showed dense, agglomerated morphologies in both samples. However, CS exhibited a higher oxygen content than CP, implying variation in defect concentrations. FTIR confirmed phase purity with characteristic Ce–O vibrations at 435 and 1631 cm¹, while Raman spectroscopy supported this by revealing the F₂g mode (~ 465 cm¹) typical of fluorite-structured CeO₂. Electrical impedance spectroscopy revealed higher ionic conductivity in CS, with a lower grain boundary blocking factor (αgb = 0.42) compared to CP (αgb = 0.62), likely due to differences in defect density and microstructure. Biocompatibility tests showed that CeO₂-300 (CS) had the highest inhibitory efficacy (IC₅₀ ≈ 65.94 µg/ml), followed by CeO₂-800 (≈ 74.1 µg/ml) and CeO₂-Pure (CP) (≈ 86.88 µg/ml), indicating the influence of synthesis on biological response. These results highlight the critical impact of synthesis methods on the biocompatibility and electrical performance of CeO₂ materials useful as solid electrolyte in IT-SOFCs application.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04843-2Fluorite ceramicsDFTElectron densityAC conductivityImpedance spectroscopyBiocompatible
spellingShingle Raj Kumar
Vipin Kumar Gupta
Mohit Khosya
Sangeeta Singh
Upendra Kumar
Comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural, electrical, and biological properties of CeO2 fluorite ceramics
Scientific Reports
Fluorite ceramics
DFT
Electron density
AC conductivity
Impedance spectroscopy
Biocompatible
title Comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural, electrical, and biological properties of CeO2 fluorite ceramics
title_full Comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural, electrical, and biological properties of CeO2 fluorite ceramics
title_fullStr Comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural, electrical, and biological properties of CeO2 fluorite ceramics
title_full_unstemmed Comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural, electrical, and biological properties of CeO2 fluorite ceramics
title_short Comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural, electrical, and biological properties of CeO2 fluorite ceramics
title_sort comparative computational and experimental insights into the structural electrical and biological properties of ceo2 fluorite ceramics
topic Fluorite ceramics
DFT
Electron density
AC conductivity
Impedance spectroscopy
Biocompatible
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04843-2
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