Ceria nanoparticles have recently been explored for nanotherapeutics by functioning as free radical scavengers to abate noxious intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the reaction mechanism between ceria nanoparticles and ROS are yet understood. It is important to study the catalytic activity and kinetics relationship of ROS with ceria to understand the reaction mechanism. Singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH•) are the two main ROS considered in this study. The reaction kinetics of both species are investigated as functions of reactant (H2O2) and ceria catalyst. Nanostructured ceria with different shapes, crystal facets and density of oxygen vacancy defects are studied for identifying the influences of ceria structure for ROS generation and predict the reaction pathways.
Yunyun Zhou and Chin Li (Barry) Cheung
Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588