Synthesis of Cerium Oxide Nanorods

A method of fabricating cerium oxide nanorods having a variety of lengths, the method comprising:

• providing a first mixture that includes a cerium precursor material;
• using microwave to heat the first mixture to a first temperature and producing first plurality of cerium oxide nanorods having a first range of lengths;
• providing a second mixture that includes a cerium precursor material;
• using microwave to heat the second mixture to a second temperature different from the first temperature and producing second plurality of cerium oxide nanorods having a second range of lengths;
• and
• mixing the first plurality of cerium oxide nanorods and the second plurality of cerium oxide nanorods to produce third plurality of cerium oxide nanorods having the third range of lengths that is broader than the first range or the second range.

An apparatus for fabricating cerium oxide nanorods, comprising:

• an input device for receiving a user input specifying an aspect ratio or a length;
• a container configured to store a mixture that includes a cerium precursor material;
• a storage device storing information that maps aspect ratios and lengths to temperatures,
• a microwave heater;
• and
• a controller that is configured to map a user specified aspect ratio or length to a temperature based on the mapping information, and control the microwave heater to heat the mixture in the container to the specified temperature and produce a plurality of cerium oxide nanorods having aspect ratios or lengths that correspond to the input aspect ratio or length.