The mixture of arachidic acid (AA) and rare earth β-diketonate complexes [Ce(tmhd)_4 and Gd(tmhd)_3] (tmhd = tetramethylheptanedionate) can form miscible, stable and condensed mixed Langmuir films on pure water. Acting as the "surface ions", the complexes, especially Gd(tmhd)_3, interacted with AA molecules due to the strong complexation. Y-type three-component LB films with periodically ordered structure were prepared successfully. The CeO_2- Gd_2O_3 (CGO) ceramic films were fabricated through Ultra- Violet/ozone (UVO) decomposition at room temperature and annealing treatment at higher temperature. XPS measurements demonstrated that the surface ions were transferred somewhat selectively during the LB deposition, which could be due to the different intensity of the complexation of the two complexes with AA. Temperature can influence the relative selectivity according to the Arrenhnius rule. Obviously, this is of importance for controlling uhe component and thickness in the fabrication of oxide ceramic films.

Key words: CERIUM OXIDE, GADOLINIUM OXIDE, CHELATES, OZONE, HEAT-TREATMENT, XPS, CERAMICS