Role of Microstructure and Spectrum Features on the Catalysis Effect of Ce_(1-x)(Nd_(0.5)Eu_(0.5))_xO_(2-δ) Solid Solutions

Nanosized Ce_(1-x)(Nd_(0.5)Eu_(0.5))xO_(2-δ) solid solutions(x = 0.00~0.20) were synthesized by means of hydrothermal method.Then the solid solutions were ball milled with Mg_2Ni and Ni powders for 20 h to get the Mg_2Ni–Ni–5 mol% Ce_(1-x)(Nd_(0.5)Eu_(0.5))xO_(2-δ) composites.The structures and spectrum characteristics of the Ce_(1-x)(Nd_(0.5)Eu_(0.5))xO_(2-δ) solid solutions catalysts were analyzed systemically.XRD results showed that the doped samples exhibited single phase of CeO_2 fluorite structure.The cell parameters and cell volumes were increased with increasing the doped content.Raman spectrum revealed that the peak position of F_(2g) mode shift to higher wavenumbers and the peak corresponding to oxygen vacancies were observed distinctly for the doped samples.UV-Vis technique indicated that the absorption peaks of Eu~(3+) and Nd~(3+) ions appeared; the bandgap energy was decreased linearly.The electrochemical and kinetic properties of the Mg_2Ni–Ni–5 mol% Ce_(1-x)(Nd_(0.5)Eu_(0.5))xO_(2-δ) composites were measured.The maximum discharge capacity was increased from 722.3 mA h/g for x = 0.00 to 819.7 mA h/g for x = 0.16,and the cycle stability S_(20) increased from 25.0%(x = 0.00) to 42.2%(x = 0.20).The kinetic measurement proved that the catalytic activity of composite surfaces and the hydrogen diffusion rate were improved for the composites with doped catalysts,especially for the composites with x = 0.16 and x = 0.20.The catalysis mechanism was analyzed from the point of microstructure and spectrum features of the Ce_(1-x)(Nd_(0.5)Eu_(0.5))xO_(2-δ) solid solutions.