A simple preparation method for rare-earth phosphate nano materials using an ionic liquid-driven supported liquid membrane system

Abstract For the first time, our group has developed a novel, high-flux strategy for shape-controlled synthesis of rare earth nano-materials (CePO 4 ) using ionic liquid(IL)-driven supported liquid membrane (HVHP, DUPAPORE ® ) system. The system contains three phases including a supply phase of rare earth ions, a feed phase of phosphates, and ionic liquid-driven supporting liquid membrane phase. The imidazolium IL-driven supported liquid membrane is promising for nano-synthetic reaction of CePO 4 . The anion types of immersed imidazolium IL have a critical role in the formation rate of CePO 4 nano-materials. Moreover, the adding SO 4 2− anion or adjustment of pH in supply phase containing Ce(III) ions could control effectively the morphology of the CePO 4 nano-materials. The result can be regarded as a good example, the IL:[C 4 mim][Tf 2 N] −driven support liquid membrane systems can be used to prepare nano-wire and nano-sphere structures of CePO 4 with high efficiency and flux. Besides, the IL-driven supported liquid membrane can be cycled many times by using the back flush activation method.