过渡金属掺杂铈中晶格氧的活化

采用密度泛函理论计算研究了在铈表面掺杂的过渡金属(TM)离子对表面晶格氧原子活化的影响.为此,测定了经TM离子修饰的CeO2最稳定(111)表面终端的结构和稳定性.除了保持八面体氧配位的锆和铂掺杂剂外, TM掺杂剂在取代表面Ce离子时更倾向于正方形平面配位.除了Pt(1.14 eV)和Zr(正方形平面配位不稳定)外,所有TM掺杂剂的表面结构从八面体到正方形平面都很容易.通常,四价TM阳离子的离子半径比Ce^4+的小得多,从而导致了显著的拉伸应变晶格,并解释了氧空位形成能量的降低.除Zr外,当产生一个氧空位时,优先形成正方形平面结构.热力学分析表明, TM掺杂CeO2表面在典型环境催化条件下存在氧缺陷.一个具有实际意义的例子是锆掺杂CeO2(111)中的晶格氧容易活化,从而有利于CO氧化.研究结果强调了晶格氧活化的本质和TM掺杂剂在TM-铈固溶催化剂中的优选位置.     

Doping of Ceria-Zirconia Solid Solution with Rare-earth Elements

The increasingly restrictive regulations on car exhaust emissions will necessitate the development of a new generation of three way catalysts (TWC) with better performance1. Ceria (CeO2) is the main component of the current TWC: its key role is to compensate the fluctuations in the exhaust stream composition, therefore, allowing to expand the air/fuel(A/F) operating window of catalytic converters2. This property is related to its oxygen storage capacity (OSC), associated to the redox couple Ce4+/Ce3+. However, CeO2 alone is easy to sinter to lost OSC at high temperature3.Ceria-zirconia (CexZr1-xO2) solid solutions by incorporation of Zr4+ in the CeO2 lattice have enhanced OSC and greater thermal stability, which are becoming the key materials for the new generation of TWC4. OSC of ceria-zirconia solid solutions can be further improved by the addition of M3+ dopants5. Besides Ce, other rare-earth elements such as Pr and Tb can vary their oxidation state. Pr and Tb are particularly suitable for making solid solutions with cerium because the known structure of PrO2 and TbO2 is of the cubic fluorite type, and the ionic radii of Pr4+ and Tb4+ are close to that of Ce4+6.In this paper, Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 (M=Y, La, Pr, Tb) were prepared by co-precipitation technique and characterized by a series of methods. Meanwhile, palladium-only TWCs were prepared by slurry coating and their catalytic activity was evaluated under the condition of simulated exhaust in the lab.XRD and FT-Raman spectra results show Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 have cubic fluorite structure which keep unchanging at high temperature. The different dopant ion radii brought different effect on the cell parameter of Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the binding energy of Ce3d, Zr3d and O1s for Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 rose compared with that for Ce0.6Zr0.4O2, indicating dopant elements changed chemistry environment of solid solutions which was available to improve redox performance From TPR results, doping La can not change redox performance of solid solution, but doping Y decreased reduction temperature. Doping Pr and Tb notably improved redox performance of solid solutions due to appearance of low-temperature reduction peak in TPR profile which come from mobility of bulk oxygen.Compared with Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2, doping Y and La unchanged A/F characteristic of TWCs, but doping Pr and Tb widen A/ F operating window and make HC, CO and NO have higher conversion.The light-off temperature of Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.3La0.1O2 was corresponded to that of Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2.However, the light-off temperatures of Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 (M=Y, Pr, Tb) were lower than that of Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2, which kept much lower after high temperature treatments. Among Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 (M=Y, La, Pr, Tb), Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.3Tb0.1O2 showed wider A/F operating window,higher conversion, lower light-off temperature and better high-temperature resistance     

Comparative study of CeO2 and doped CeO2 with tailored oxygen vacancies for CO oxidation

We report on the preparation and characterization of CeO(2) nanofibers (CeO(2)-NFs) and nanocubes (CeO(2)-NCs), as well as Sm- and Gd-doped CeO(2) nanocubes (Sm-CeO(2)-NCs and Gd-CeO(2)-NCs), synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process for CO catalytic oxidation. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Their oxygen-storing capacity (OSC) was examined by means of hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H(2)-TPR) and oxygen pulse techniques. Their catalytic properties for CO catalytic oxidation were comparatively investigated. The results showed that the CeO(2)-NFs possessed a higher catalytic activity compared to the CeO(2)-NCs because of their smaller size and the greater number of oxygen vacancies. The activity of the Sm-CeO(2)-NCs was higher than that of the CeO(2)-NCs due to an increase in the number of oxygen vacancies, which results from the substitution of Ce(4+) species with Sm(3+) ions. In contrast, Gd doping had a negative effect on the CO catalytic oxidation due to the special electron configuration of Gd(3+) (4f(7)). Our work demonstrates that the oxygen vacancies in pure CeO(2) and the electron configuration of the dopants in doped CeO(2) play an important role in CO oxidation.     

Characterization of trimetallic Pt-Pd-Au/CeO2 catalysts combinatorial designed for methane total oxidation

In the present work, the role and the effect of platinum and gold on the catalytic performance of ceria supported tri-metallic Pt-Pd-Au catalysts have been studied. The optimum composition of these tri-metallic supported catalysts has been discovered using methods and tools of combinatorial catalyst library design. Detailed catalytic, spectroscopic and physico-chemical characterization of catalysts in the vicinity of the optimum in the given compositional space has been performed. The temperature-programmed oxidation of methane revealed that the addition of Pt and Au to Pd/CeO2 catalyst resulted in higher conversion values in the whole investigated temperature range compared to the monometallic Pd catalyst. The time-on-stream experiments provided further evidence for the high-stability of tri-metallic catalysts compared to the monometallic one. Kinetic studies revealed the stronger adsorption of methane on Pt-Pd/CeO2 catalysts than over Pd/CeO2. XPS analysis showed that Pt and Au stabilize Pd in a more reduced form even under condition of methane oxidation. FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO and hydrogen TPD measurements provided indirect evidences for alloying of Pt and Au with Pd. CO chemisorption data indicated that tri-metallic catalysts have increased accessible metallic surface area. It is suggested that advantageous catalytic properties of tri-metallic Pt-Au-Pd/CeO2 catalysts compared to the monometallic one can be attributed to (i) suppression of the formation of ionic forms of Pd(II), (ii) reaching an optimum ratio between Pd0 and PdO species, and (iii) stabilization of Pd in high dispersion. The results also indicate that Pd0 - PdO ensemble sites are required for methane activation.     

贵金属原子在CeO2(111)表面吸附的密度泛函理论研究

利用密度泛函理论系统研究了贵金属原子(Au、Pd、Pt和Rh)在CeO₂(111)表面的吸附行为。结果表明,Au吸附在氧顶位最稳定,Pd、Pt倾向吸附于氧桥位,而Rh在洞位最稳定。当金属原子吸附在氧顶位时,吸附强度依次为Pt > Rh > Pd > Au。Pd、Pt与Rh吸附后在Ce 4f、O 2p电子峰间出现掺杂峰;Au未出现掺杂电子峰,其d电子峰与表面O 2p峰在-4～-1 eV重叠。态密度分析表明,Au吸附在氧顶位、Pd与Pt吸附在桥位、Rh吸附在洞位时,金属与CeO₂(111)表面氧原子作用较强,这与Bader电荷分析结果相一致。     

CeO_2修饰炭载体负载PdPt二元合金催化剂及其在甲酸氧化电催化中的应用

用CeO2修饰炭粉做载体,使用有机溶胶法还原PdPt二元合金的方法制备了一系列PdPt/CeO2-C催化剂.借助电化学测试,探讨催化剂中不同Pd与Pt原子比例的PdPt二元合金和不同含量的CeO2对于甲酸电氧化催化活性的影响.不断减少PdPt合金中Pt的比例可以促使甲酸氧化的起始电位前移,当Pd：Pt=15：1时氧化电流出现极值;同时,随着催化剂中CeO2含量的增加,催化剂对于HCOOH氧化的电流密度增加,当含量为15%时达到最大值.相对于Pd/C催化剂,在Pd15Pt1/15CeO2-C催化剂表面的甲酸氧化反应起始电位负移至少0.1V,氧化的电流密度提高60%以上.结合X射线衍射（XRD）,X射线光电子能谱（XPS）,透射电镜（TEM）和热重（TG）等测试数据可以发现,当极少量的Pt与Pd形成合金,Pt与Pd之间产生电子效应,使得合金表面HCOOH氧化的过电位降低;而CeO2的添加不仅有助于PdPt二元合金的分散,更有可能改变甲酸在PdPt表面的氧化反应路径,发挥双功能机理.     

负载型Pd三效催化剂：载体CeO2-ZrO2-BaO的制备及催化性能

制备了不同BaO含量的CeO2-ZrO2储氧材料,并以此材料为载体浸渍H2PdCl6制得三效催化剂.结果表明,不论新鲜还是1 000 ℃老化状态下,以10%BaO添加CeO2-ZrO2储氧材料制备的Pd三效催化剂活性最佳,起燃和完全转化温度最低.XPS结果证实,10%BaO添加.通过稳定PdO活性组分并改变其电子环境使得催化剂有最佳活性.而随着BaO含量持续增加,Pd活件组分相对处于较氧化状态.储氧量、低温N2吸附-脱附测试以及XRD测试结果均表明10%BaO添加的材料储氧量,比表面积以及孔容均最大,而且有适应三效催化的孔径.这些结果均有助于以其制备的Pd三效催化剂获得更好的活性以及热稳定性.     

Kinetics of oxygen exchange over CeO2-ZrO2 fluorite-based catalysts

The kinetics of 18O/16O isotopic exchange over CeO2-ZrO2-La2O3 and Pt/CeO2-ZrO2 catalysts have been investigated under the conditions of dynamic adsorption-desorption equilibrium at atmospheric pressure and a temperature range of 650-850 degrees C. The rates of oxygen adsorption-desorption on Pt sites, support surface, oxygen transfer (spillover) from Pt to the support as well as the amount of oxygen accumulated in the oxide bulk, and oxygen diffusion coefficient were estimated. The nanocrystalline structure of lanthana-doped ceria-zirconia prepared via the Pechini route with a developed network of domain boundaries and specific defects guarantees a high oxygen mobility in the oxide bulk (D = (1.5 / 2.0).10-18 m2 s-1 at 650 degrees C) and allows accumulation of over-stoichiometric/excess oxygen. For Pt/CeO2-ZrO2, oxygen transfer from Pt to support (characteristic time < 10-2 s) was shown to be responsible for the fast exchange between the gas-phase oxygen and oxygen adsorbed on the mixed oxide surface. The rate of direct exchange between the gas phase and surface oxygen is increased as well due to the increased concentration (up to 2 monolayers) of surface/near subsurface oxygen species accumulated on the oxygen vacancies (originated from the incorporation of highly dispersed Pt atoms). The characteristic time of diffusion of the oxygen localized in the subsurface layers is about 1 s. The overall quantity of over-stoichiometric oxygen and/or hydroxyl groups accumulated in the bulk can reach the equivalent of 10 monolayers, and characteristic time of oxygen diffusion within the bulk is about 20 s. All these kinetic data are required for the further step of modeling partial oxidation of hydrocarbons under steady- and unsteady-state conditions.     

第二组分对Au/CeO2催化剂甲醇部分氧化性能的影响

本文研究了Pd、Pt、Ru和Ag对Au/CeO2催化剂以及Pd含量对Au-Pd/CeO2催化剂甲醇部分氧化性能的影响,并运用XRD、TPD和TPR等手段对Au/CeO2和Au-Pd/CeO2催化剂进行了表征.结果表明,Pd和Pt的加入能提高Au/CeO2催化剂的活性,而Ru和Ag的加入效果正好相反.不同的Au/Pd比对Au-Pd/CeO2催化剂的活性和H2选择性的影响不同,其中Au/Pd=60:40的效果最好,因为Au60Pd40/CeO2催化剂形成的富Au型AuxPdy较多,甲醇的吸附温度较低和对反应产物H2的吸附较少.     

CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni催化剂在碱性溶液中对乙醇电催化氧化性能的增强

有机小分子直接燃料电池具有高能量密度和转换效率、易贮存及运输方便等优点.在过去几十年,有机小分子化合物尤其是乙醇的电催化氧化引起了研究者的关注,高活性和稳定性及低价格的电催化剂的设计和制备一直是乙醇燃料电池的研究热点.本文采用复合电沉积方法制备了Ni和CeO2复合镀层,然后利用Ni置换铂前驱体中Pt的方法制备了纳米CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂(Pt/Ni-CeO2).采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)及能谱仪(EDS)等手段表征了所制样品的组成和相结构、表面形貌及组成成份.XRD结果表明,所制Pt/Ni催化剂主要是PtNi合金相结构.与Pt/Ni相比,Pt/Ni-CeO2催化剂的XRD峰强明显变弱,表明纳米CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂的结晶性较差或者其晶体颗粒较小.这可能是由于CeO2的共沉积阻止了Ni纳米颗粒的进一步生长或团聚.当电镀液中CeO2含量为50和100 mg/L时,所制Pt/Ni-CeO2催化剂样品Pt/NiCe1和Pt/NiCe2的XRD谱上未观察到CeO2相关的衍射峰,这主要可归因于催化剂中沉积的CeO2量少或其高度分散.随着电镀液中CeO2浓度进一步增大到200 mg/L时,在Pt/Ni-CeO2催化剂(Pt/NiCe4)的XRD谱上出现了CeO2相关的衍射峰.这表明采用复合电沉积-化学还原法可以成功制备CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂.SEM结果显示,所制催化剂都是由团聚状态的纳米颗粒组成,并且Pt/NiCe2表现出比Pt/Ni更开放的微结构,从而有利于反应物扩散至催化剂内部.该结果进一步表明共沉积的CeO2对所制Pt/Ni催化剂微结构的影响.此外,EDS结果也证实成功制备了CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂.采用多次循环伏安、电流时间曲线和电化学阻抗谱(EIS)等手段研究了所制电催化剂的电化学性能.与Pt/Ni相比,Pt/Ni-CeO2催化剂表现出更好的电催化氧化乙醇活性和稳定性,这可能与CeO2的贮氧特性及其共沉积增大了电极的粗糙度有关.红外光谱测试结果表明,在CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂催化氧化乙醇过程中,CH3COO?可能是乙醇氧化的主要产物.在所制催化剂中,CeO2含量影响其电催化氧化乙醇性能.循环伏安和电流时间曲线测试结果表明,随着催化剂中CeO2含量增大,催化剂活性先增加后减弱.电化学阻抗谱结果表明,随着CeO2含量增大,CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂的接触电阻先增大后变小再变大;而电荷转移电阻不断变小.在电解液中含有100 mg/L CeO2时所制电催化剂(Pt/NiCe2)具有最佳的电催化氧化乙醇活性和稳定性.这主要与CeO2的贮氧功能、Pt与CeO2/Ni间的相互作用和其较小的接触电阻和电荷转移电阻有关.该结果可为设计和制备低价格、高活性乙醇燃料电池中的催化剂提供思路.     

不同铈添加量对CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3材料性能的影响

采用共沉淀法制备了一系列不同铈添加量的CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3(CZA)储氧材料,并通过XRD、低温N2吸附-脱附、氧脉冲吸附(OSC)和H2-TPR等手段进行了表征。XRD结果表明,在1 000和1 100℃高温焙烧后,当CeO2添加量为8%时样品具有最好的结构稳定性能。N2吸附-脱附结果表明,CeO2添加量为8%时样品具有最好的织构性能,1 000℃时,比表面积和孔容分别为:136.6 m2.g-1和0.38 mL.g-1;1 100℃时,比表面积和孔容分别为:83.7 m2.g-1和0.23 mL.g-1。OSC结果显示,CeO2添加量为8%时样品具有最大的储氧量,1 000℃和1 100℃分别为70μmol.g-1和31μmol.g-1。H2-TPR结果表明,CeO2添加量为8%时样品具有最佳的还原性能。     

还原热处理对铈锆铝复合氧化物性能的影响

采用共沉淀法制备铈锆铝复合氧化物(CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3,CZA)和铈锆复合氧化物(CeO2-ZrO2,CZ),将样品分别在空气和10%H2/Ar气氛下进行热处理,利用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、O2脉冲吸附、H2程序升温还原(H2-TPR)等手段研究了复合氧化物的结构及性能.结果表明:CZA样品经950℃还原热处理后出现CeAlO3晶相,热处理温度越高,越有利于CeAlO3物相生成.CZA储氧量(OSC)随着还原热处理温度升高逐渐增大,至900℃达到1270.3μmo·lg-1;温度继续升高,OSC减小,1100℃还原热处理后CZA的OSC仅为23.2μmo·lg-1.研究发现还原热处理中形成CeAlO3,其显著影响CZA样品的储氧性能和还原性能.     

Atomistic models for CeO(2)(111), (110), and (100) nanoparticles,supported on yttrium-stabilized zirconia

Ceria is an important component in three-way catalysts for the treatment of automobile exhaust gases owing to its ability to store and release oxygen, a property known as the oxygen storage capacity. Much effort has been focused on increasing the OSC of ceria, and one avenue of exploration is the ability to fabricate CeO(2)-based catalysts, which expose reactive surfaces. Here we show how models for a polycrystalline CeO(2) thin film, which expose the (111), (110), and dipolar (100) surfaces, can be synthesized. This is achieved by supporting the CeO(2) thin film on an yttrium-stabilized zirconia substrate using a simulated amorphization and recrystallization strategy. In particular, the methodology generates models which reveal the atomistic structures present on the surface of the reactive faces and provides details of the grain-boundary structures, defects (vacancies, substitutionals, and clustering), and epitaxial relationships. Such models are an important first step in understanding the active sites at the surface of a catalytic material.     

CeO_2/Pt复合电极及其电催化特性

应用恒电位沉积(psd)和电位脉冲沉积(ppd)法在Pt基底制备CeO2/Pt复合电极,用能量色散X射线光谱(EDX)和X射线衍射(XRD)检测CeO2纳米粒子的成分和结构,场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)观察样品形貌.结果表明:CeO2颗粒细小、致密.在KOH溶液中,CeO2/Pt对甲醇氧化和氧还原有电催化作用;若在稀硫酸中溶除CeO2/Pt电极(ppd)的部分CeO2,则电极的电催化作用进一步增强.     

沉淀方法对CeO2-ZrO2系储氧材料性能的影响

利用不同沉淀方法制备了一系列CeO2-ZrO2系储氧材料,并应用BET、XRD、TPR及其储氧性能测定等方法对储氧材料进行了研究.结果表明,不同的沉淀方法对样品的结构和性能有重要的影响.并流法可得到耐高温,储氧性能好,比表面积高的储氧材料;正滴法所得样品储氧量低但稳定,其比表面积抗老化性能差;反滴法所制备的样品储氧性能好,老化后比表面积较低.三种沉淀方法均可形成CeO2-ZrO2固溶体,材料的还原性能取决于比表面积,但与储氧性能无直接关系.     

甲醇在CeO2担载Pd催化剂上分解机理的研究

采用原位红外(in-situFTIR)技术对甲醇在CeO₂和Pd/CeO₂催化剂上的吸附和反应进行了研究,提出一个新的甲醇分解反应机理模型.甲醇在CeO₂上容易吸附并结合其晶格氧生成甲酸盐物种,而甲醇分解的产物氢被Pd活化后,溢流到CeO₂上促进了甲酸盐物种的分解.Cl^-的存在加强了Pd/CeO₂催化剂与氢的相互作用,Pd和CeO₂通过对氢和氧物种的作用对甲醇分解反应的过程表现出协同效应.     

钙改性的Pd/CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3催化剂催化甲醇裂解反应

采用共沉淀法制备了未改性的和Ca掺杂的CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3样品,进一步用浸渍法制备了Pd/CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3(Pd/CZA)和Pd/CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3-CaO (Pd/CZACa)催化剂.运用X射线衍射、N2吸附-脱附、储氧量测定、CO化学吸附、NH3程序升温脱附、CO2程序升温脱附、...     

Pt/CeO2/SBA-15催化剂上Pt-CeO2接触界面的相互作用

通过沉积沉淀法(Deposition precipitation, DP)将CeO2纳米粒子高度分散在SBA-15分子筛上, 进一步采用浸渍法负载Pt后制备了 Pt/CeO2/SBA-DP催化剂. 紫外-可见漫反射光谱分析表明, 在Pt/CeO2/SBA-DP催化剂上可以形成更多的Pt-CeO2接触界面, 有利于从CeO2到Pt的电子转移过程. CO程序升温还原(CO-TPR)测试证实, Pt/CeO2/SBA-DP催化剂上CeO2表面氧物种具有较高的还原能力.     

Different rotamer states of cytosine nucleobases in heteronuclear PtPd-, PtPd2, and Pt2Pd2Ag complexes derived from [Pt(2,2'-bpy)(1-MeC-N3)2]2+ (1-MeC = 1-methylcytosine): first examples of species with head-head oriented 1-MeC(-) ligands

[Pt(2,2'-bpy)(1-MeC-N3)(2)](NO(3))(2) (1) (2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; 1-MeC = 1-methylcytosine) exists in water in an equilibrium of head-tail and head-head rotamers, with the former exceeding the latter by a factor of ca. 20 at room temperature. Nevertheless, 1 reacts with (en)Pd(II) (en = ethylenediamine) to give preferentially the dinuclear complex [Pt(2,2'-bpy)(1-MeC(-)-N3,N4)(2)Pd(en)](NO(3))(2)·5H(2)O (2) with head-head arranged 1-methylctosinato (1-MeC(-)) ligands and Pd being coordinated to two exocyclic N4H(-) positions. Addition of AgNO(3) to a solution of 2 leads to formation of a pentanuclear chain compound [{Pt(2,2'-bpy)(1-MeC(-))(2)Pd(en)}(2)Ag](NO(3))(5)·14H(2)O (5) in which Ag(+) cross-links two cations of 2 via the four available O2 sites of the 1-MeC(-) ligands. 2 and 5 appear to be the first X-ray structurally characterized examples of di- and multinuclear complexes derived from a Pt(II) species with two cis-positioned cytosinato ligands adopting a head-head arrangement. (tmeda)Pd(II) (tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) and (2,2'-bpy)Pd(II) behave differently toward 1 in that in their derivatives the head-tail orientation of the 1-MeC(-) nucleobases is retained. In [Pt(2,2'-bpy)(1-MeC(-))(2){Pd(2,2'-bpy)}(2)](NO(3))(4)·10H(2)O (4), both (2,2'-bpy)Pd(II) entities are pairwise bonded to N4H(-) and O2 sites of the two 1-MeC(-) rings, whereas in [Pt(2,2'-bpy)(1-MeC(-))(2){Pd(tmeda)}(2)(NO(3))](NO(3))(3)·5H(2)O (3) only one of the two (tmeda)Pd(II) units is chelated to N4H(-) and O2. The second (tmeda)Pd(II) is monofunctionally attached to a single N4H(-) site. On the basis of these established binding patterns, ways to the formation of mixed Pt/Pd complexes and possible intermediates are proposed. The methylene protons of the en ligand in 2 are special in that they display two multiplets separated by 0.64 ppm in the (1)H NMR spectrum.     

Structural characterization of nanosized CeO(2)-SiO(2), CeO(2)-TiO(2), and CeO(2)-ZrO(2) catalysts by XRD, Raman, and HREM techniques

Structural characteristics of nanosized ceria-silica, ceria-titania, and ceria-zirconia mixed oxide catalysts have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, BET surface area, thermogravimetry, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM). The effect of support oxides on the crystal modification of ceria cubic lattice was mainly focused. The investigated oxides were obtained by soft chemical routes with ultrahighly dilute solutions and were subjected to thermal treatments from 773 to 1073 K. The XRD results suggest that the CeO(2)-SiO(2) sample primarily consists of nanocrystalline CeO(2) on the amorphous SiO(2) surface. Both crystalline CeO(2) and TiO(2) anatase phases were noted in the case of CeO(2)-TiO(2) sample. Formation of cubic Ce(0.75)Zr(0.25)O(2) and Ce(0.6)Zr(0.4)O(2) (at 1073 K) were observed in the case of the CeO(2)-ZrO(2) sample. Raman measurements disclose the fluorite structure of ceria and the presence of oxygen vacancies/Ce(3+). The HREM results reveal well-dispersed CeO(2) nanocrystals over the amorphous SiO(2) matrix in the cases of CeO(2)-SiO(2), isolated CeO(2), and TiO(2) (anatase) nanocrystals, some overlapping regions in the case of CeO(2)-TiO(2), and nanosized CeO(2) and Ce-Zr oxides in the case of CeO(2)-ZrO(2) sample. The exact structural features of these crystals as determined by digital diffraction analysis of HREM experimental images reveal that the CeO(2) is mainly in cubic fluorite geometry. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC) as determined by thermogravimetry reveals that the OSC of the mixed oxide systems is more than that of pure CeO(2) and is system dependent.