Synthesis, phase transformation and applications of CeCO3OH: A review

CeCO₃OH has a unique crystal structure and excellent optical, electronic and catalytic properties, which has been widely investigated for many applications. Interestingly, ceria obtained from CeCO₃OH has a morphology that is similar to that of the precursor, and the CeO₂-based products obtained from CeCO₃OH exhibit outstanding properties, such as catalytic performances, owing to their designed morphology and oxygen vacancies (OVs). To introduce CeCO₃OH into a wider range of potential researchers, we first systematically review the physico-chemical properties, synthesis, reaction and morphology tuning mechanism of CeCO₃OH, and summarize the conversion behavior from CeCO₃OH to ceria. Then, we thoroughly survey the applications of CeCO₃OH and its conversion products. Suggestions for further investigations of CeCO₃OH are also made in this review. It is hoped that the exhaustive compilation of the valuable properties and considerable potential investigations of CeCO₃OH will promote further applications of CeCO₃OH and CeO₂-based functional materials.