Structure and surface properties of ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, and Zr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> prepared by a microemulsion method according to X-ray diffraction,TPR, and EPR data

It was established by X-ray diffraction, TPR, and EPR that microemulsion (m.e.) synthesis yields the binary oxides ZrO₂(m.e.) and CeO₂(m.e.) and the mixed oxide Zr_0.5Ce_0.5O₂(m.e.) in the form of a tetragonal, cubic, and pseudocubic phase, respectively, having crystallite sizes of 5–6 nm. The bond energy of surface oxygen in the (m.e.) samples is lower than in their analogues prepared by pyrolysis. Hydrogen oxidation on the oxides under study occurs at higher temperatures than CO oxidation. ZrO₂(m.e.) and CeO₂(m.e.) are active in O₂⁻ formation during NO + O₂ adsorption, while CeO₂ is active during CO + O₂ adsorption, too. However, its amount here is one-half to one-third its amount in the pyrolysis-prepared samples, signifying a reduced number of active sites, which are Zr⁴⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ coordinatively unsaturated cations and Me⁴⁺-O²⁻ pairs. O₂⁻ radical anions are stabilized in the coordination sphere of Zr⁴⁺ coordinatively unsaturated cations via ionic bonding, and in the sphere of Ce⁴⁺ cations, via covalent bonding. Ionic bonds are stronger than ionic-covalent bonds and do not depend on the ZrO₂ phase composition. Zr_0.5Ce_0.5O₂ is inactive in these reactions because of the strong interaction of Zr and Ce cations. It is suggested that Ce^{(4 + β)+} coordinatively unsaturated cations exist on its surface, and their acid strength is lower than that of Zr⁴⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ cations in ZrO₂ and CeO₂, according to the order ZrO₂ > CeO₂ ≥ Zr_0.5Ce_0.5O₂. Neither TPR nor adsorption of probe molecules revealed Zr cations on the surface of the mixed oxide.     

Promotional effect of cobalt addition on catalytic performance of Ce<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixed oxide for diesel soot combustion

A series of Co-modified Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ catalysts with different concentrations of Co (mass %: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) was investigated for diesel soot combustion. Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ was prepared using the coprecipitation method and Co was loaded onto the oxide using the incipient wetness impregnation method. The activities of the catalysts were evaluated by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) experiments. The results showed the soot combustion activities of the catalysts to be effectively improved by the addition of Co, 6 % Co/Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ and that the 8 % Co/Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ catalysts exhibited the best catalytic performance in terms of lower soot ignition temperature (T_i at 349°C) and maximal soot oxidation rate temperature (T_m at 358°C). The reasons for the improved activity were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These results revealed that the presence of Co could lower the reduction temperature due to the synergistic effect between Co and Ce, thereby improving the activity of the catalysts in soot combustion. The 6 % Co catalyst exhibited the best catalytic performance, which could be attributed to the greater amounts of Co³⁺ and surface oxygen species on the catalyst.     

Effect of pretreatment conditions on the catalytic activity of coprecipitated Ce<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalyst in soot oxidation

The temperature of soot oxidation and efficiency of Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ catalyst depends on its morphology, which determines the area of intergranular contact between the solid substrate and the catalyst. The temperature-programmed reduction in hydrogen to 1000°C and oxidation at 500°C (redox cycles) cause the mobility of oxygen in oxide to be enhanced and decrease the temperature of soot combustion. Oxidation of soot in the air flow on the Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ catalyst result in its activation. Reuse of the catalyst decreases the temperature of soot oxidation.     

The dependence of the oxygen-exchange properties of Ce<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> on the method of synthesis

The oxygen-exchange properties of Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ samples prepared by the traditional coprecipitation method with the use of a biotemplate (pine wood sawdust) were studied by the temperature-programmed reduction and oxidation methods. The use of the template and the presence of alkali and alkaline-earth metal cations in it provides a high mobility of oxygen and a high capacity with respect to oxygen in the biomorphic oxide. Impurities cause the segregation of Ce- and Zr-enriched phases under high-temperature treatment conditions, which worsens the redox properties of the biomorphic sample. Nevertheless, the ability of the biomorphic sample to play the role of an “oxygen buffer” remains high compared with the coprecipitated oxide subjected to similar treatments.     

Bimetallic Pt<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Catalyst: Preparation,Structure, and Properties in Preferential Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide

The Pt_0.5Со_0.5/SiO₂ catalyst has been prepared by the decomposition of a [Pt(NH₃)₄][Co(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]. 2H₂O binary complex salt supported in the pores of SiO₂ pellets. It has been shown by a complex of physical and chemical methods that Pt_0.5Со_0.5/SiO₂ contains alloy nanoparticles with an average composition Pt0.5Co0.5. The catalytic properties of Pt_0.5Со_0.5/SiO₂ are studied in the preferential oxidation of СО in the reaction mixtures with various compositions. It was found that Pt_0.5Со_0.5/SiO₂ has a high selectivity and makes it possible to decrease the outlet concentration of CO to a level of <10 ppm, and the presence of СО₂ and/or Н₂О in the reaction mixture almost does not affect its catalytic properties. The structure of the catalyst is stable under the conditions of preferential CO oxidation.     

Structure and Catalytic Properties of Ceria-based Nickel Catalysts for CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Reforming of Methane

Carbon dioxide reforming (CDR) of methane to synthesis gas over supported nickel catalysts has been reviewed. The present review mainly focuses on the advantage of ceria based nickel catalysts for the CDR of methane. Nickel catalysts supported on ceria–zirconia showed the highest activity for CDR than nickel supported on other oxides such as zirconia, ceria and alumina. The addition of zirconia to ceria enhances the catalytic activity as well as the catalyst stability. The catalytic performance also depends on the crystal structure of Ni–Ce–ZrO₂. For example, nickel catalysts co-precipitated with Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ having cubic phase gave synthesis gas with CH₄ conversion more than 97% at 800 °C and the activity was maintained for 100 h during the reaction. On the contrary, Ni–Ce–ZrO₂ having tetragonal phase (Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂) or mixed oxide phase (Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂) deactivated during the reaction due to carbon formation. The enhanced catalytic performance of co-precipitated catalyst is attributed to a combination effect of nano-crystalline nature of cubic Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ support and the finely dispersed nano size NiO _x crystallites, resulting in the intimate contact between Ni and Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ particles. The Ni/Ce–ZrO₂/θ–Al₂O₃ also exhibited high catalytic activity during CDR with a synthesis gas conversion more than 97% at 800 °C without significant deactivation for more than 40 h. The high stability of the catalyst is mainly ascribed to the beneficial pre-coating of Ce–ZrO₂ resulting in the existence of stable NiO _x species, a strong interaction between Ni and the support, and an abundance of mobile oxygen species in itself. TPR results further confirmed that NiO _x formation was more favorable than NiO or NiAl₂O₄ formation and further results suggested the existence of strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) between Ni and the support. Some of the important factors to optimize the CDR of methane such as reaction temperature, space velocity, feed CO₂/CH₄ ratio and H₂O and/or O₂ addition were also examined.     

Thermoanalytical study of the synthesis of Na<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Bi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ferroelectric

The study presents results of examination on Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ (NBT) ferroelectric synthesis through intermediate binary compound Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BIT). The first stage of the study related to obtaining BIT from oxide precursors, i.e. Bi₂O₃ and TiO₂. The second stage included obtaining NBT from Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂, Na₂CO₃ and TiO₂. Two polymorphic modifications of TiO₂ (anatase, rutile) and diversified initial homogenization of raw material batches were applied during examination.     

The Effect of Chromium Oxide on the Conductivity of Ce<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Gd<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>, a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Electrolyte

To study the effect of chromium oxide on the electric properties of Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O₂, a solid-oxide fuel cell electrolyte, two approaches were used: (a) the studying of electrochemical properties of the Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O₂- electrolyte after the spontaneous adsorption of chromium-containing molecules from a gas phase and (b) the analyzing of transport properties of the Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O₂-based chromium-containing compositions obtained by the mixing of solid-oxide electrolyte with chromium(III) oxide. It was found that the chromium reduction at the electrolyte surface dominates when chromium is adsorbed from gas phase. Both approaches allow concluding that the chromium presence in Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O₂ deteriorates the electrolyte transport properties at temperatures above 735°С. This is caused by the chromium incorporation into the electrolyte’s fluorite structure, as well as surface microheterogeneity induced by the chromium presence at the Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O₂ surface and the cerium and gadolinium cation redistribution between the grains’ bulk and surface. At intermediate temperatures (below 735°С) the electric conductivity of the Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O₂-based chromium-containing composition exceeds that of the initial solid-oxide electrolyte, which can be due to changes in transport properties of the chromium-containing phases formed at the Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O₂ surface and grain boundaries.     

Effect of the nanoparticle size of supported copper-containing catalysts on their activity in the selective oxidation of CO in an excess of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The catalytic properties of systems prepared by the supporting of CuO onto CeO₂, ZrO₂, and Zr_0.5Ce_0.5O₂ with particle sizes of 15–25 nm (nitrate pyrolysis (p)) and 5–6 nm (microemulsion method (me)) in the reaction of CO oxidation in an excess of H₂ were studied. In the latter case, the supports had an almost homogeneous surface and a small number of defects. The catalytic activity of (me) and (p) supports was low and almost the same, whereas the catalytic activity of CuO/(CeO₂, ZrO₂, and Zr_0.5Ce_0.5O₂)(me) samples was lower than that of CuO/(CeO₂ and ZrO₂)(p). The maximum CO conversion (∼100% at 125°C) was observed on 5% CuO/CeO₂ (p). The CO and CO₂ adsorption species on (p) and (me) catalysts were studied by TPD. Differences in the compositions of copper-containing centers on the surfaces of (p) and (me) systems were found using TPR. The nature of the active centers of CO oxidation and the effect of support crystallite size on the catalytic activity were considered.     

Glycine-assisted combustion synthesis and electrochemical behavior of LiNi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles under microwave irradiation

Layered LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ nanoparticles have been successfully prepared by the glycine-assisted combustion method under microwave irradiation. The exothermic reaction can generate a large quantity of heat rapidly leading to the formation and crystallization of LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂. From the X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy results, the resulting powders have a well-developed layered structure and average particle-size is about 80 nm. The chemical composition analysis and electrochemical characteristics of the obtained LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ nanoparticles as cathode material for rechargeable lithium-ion battery were also investigated. The improved electrochemical performances of the layered LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ nanoparticles might be ascribed to the nanostructure of the powders and the unique combustion synthesis under microwave irradiation.     

Physicochemical and catalytic properties of systems based on CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The effect of synthesis conditions, the nature of components, and the ratio between the components on the phase composition, the texture, and the redox and catalytic properties of the Ce-Zr-O, Ce-Zr-M₁-O (M₁ = Mn, Ni, Cu, Y, La, Pr, or Nd), N/Ce-Zr-O (N = Rh, Pd, or Pt), and Pd/Ce-Zr-M₂-O/Al₂O₃ (M₂ = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Pr, Nd, or Sm) was considered. A cubic solid solution with the fluorite structure was formed on the introduction of <50 mol % zirconium into CeO₂, and the stability of this solid solution depended on preparation procedure and treatment conditions. The presence of transition or rare earth elements in certain concentrations extended the range of compositions with the retained fluorite structure. The texture of the Ce-Zr-O system mainly depended on treatment temperature. An increase in this temperature resulted in a decrease in the specific surface area of the samples. The total pore volume varied over the range of 0.2–0.3 cm³/g and depended on the Ce/Zr ratio. The presence of transition or rare earth elements either increased the specific surface area of the system or made it more stable to thermal treatment. The introduction of the isovalent cation Zr⁴⁺ into CeO₂ increased the number of lattice defects both on the surface and in the bulk to increase the mobility of oxygen and facilitate its diffusion in the Ce_{1 − x} Zr _x O₂ lattice. The catalytic properties of the Ce-Zr-M₁-O or N/Ce-Zr-M₂-O systems were due to the presence of anion vacancies and the easy transitions Ce⁴⁺ ai Ce³⁺, M₁²ⁿ⁺ ai M₁ ⁿ⁺, and N ^δ+ → N ⁰ in the case of noble metals.     

Phase equilibria in the Ce<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-K<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> system

Ce₂O₃-K₂O-P₂O₅ ternary system has been investigated by thermoanalytical methods (DTA, DSC), powder X-ray diffraction, XPS and IR spectroscopy. The existence of three double potassium-cerium(III) phosphates has been confirmed and a new binary phosphate K₄Ce₂P₄O₁₅ has been found. Phase diagram and isothermal section at room temperature of the system Ce₂O₃-K₂O-P₂O₅ have been presented.     

Synthesis and study of the phosphate Cs<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The new phosphate Cs₂Mn_0.5Zr_1.5(PO₄)₃ was synthesized for the first time and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Its crystal structure was refined in space group P2₁3, Z = 4 at 25°C (a = 10.3163(1) Å, V = 1097.93(1) ų), by the Rietveld method using the powder X-ray diffraction data. The structure is built of an octahedral-tetrahedral framework {[Mn_0.5Zr_1.5(PO₄)₃]^2?}_3∞ with cesium atoms being located in large cavities. The hydrolytic stability of the powdered phosphate containing ¹³⁷Cs radionuclide was studied. The minimum achieved ¹³⁷Cs leaching rate was 4 × 10^?8 g/cm₂ day.     

Effect of Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> addition on structure and magnetic properties of Ni<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanofibers

Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanofibers with addition of 0–5 wt% Bi₂O₃ were synthesized by calcination of the electrospun polyvinylpyrrolidone/inorganic composite nanofibers at the temperature below the melting point of Bi₂O₃. The effects of Bi₂O₃ addition on the phase structure, morphology and magnetic properties of the nanofibers were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, selected area electron diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometer. It is found that the nanofiber diameter, crystallite size and magnetic parameters can be effectively tuned by simply adjusting the amount of Bi₂O₃ addition. The average diameter of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanofibers doped with different contents of Bi₂O₃ ranges from 40 to 63 nm and gradually decreases with increasing Bi₂O₃ content. The addition of Bi₂O₃ does not induce the phase change and all the samples are a single-phase spinel structure. The amorphous Bi₂O₃ tends to concentrate on the nanoparticle surface and/or grain boundary and can retard the particles motion as well as the grain growth, resulting in a considerable reduction in grain size compared to the pristine sample. The specific saturation magnetization and coercivity of the nanofibers gradually decrease with the increase of Bi₂O₃ amount. Such behaviors are explained on the basis of chemical composition, surface effect, domain structure and crystal anisotropy.     

Preparation and radioluminescent characteristics of Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>-CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript> glasses doped with Ce(III) and Gd(III)

A method has been developed for the preparation of homogeneous moisture-resistant glasses with the composition Li₂O-B₂O₃-P₂O₅-CaF₂ : Ce³⁺-Gd³⁺. Energy transfer from Gd³⁺ to Ce³⁺ was noted in a study of the radioluminescence spectra of these samples using ²⁴¹Am as the excitation source (60 keV). The decay time of the Ce³⁺ radioluminescence in the glasses obtained was 20-25 ns.     

Ce0.5Zr0.5O2修饰的Ni/SiC、Fe/SiC和Co/SiC催化燃烧甲烷性能

以铈锆固溶体（Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂）修饰的高比表面积SiC为载体,采用两步浸渍法制备了Ni、Fe和Co基催化剂,研究了其在煤层气催化燃烧脱氧中的催化活性和稳定性. 利用X射线衍射（XRD）、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）、电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP-MS）、高分辨透射电子显微镜（HRTEM）、比表面积（BET）、热重分析（TGA）和H₂程序升温还原（H₂-TPR）对催化剂进行了表征. 分析结果表明,Ni、Fe和Co部分进入Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂固溶体晶格内部,导致催化剂体相形成更多的缺陷;同时Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂固溶体有助于加速金属氧化物和金属之间氧化还原过程的进行,促进了氧吸附、传输和对甲烷的活化. 另外,SiC和Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂固熔体良好的抗积碳性能,有效避免了催化剂在富甲烷反应气氛中因积碳而失活,从而使三种催化剂均具有优良的催化燃烧脱氧活性和稳定性. 其中,Co/Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂/SiC活性最高,可在320 ℃活化催化甲烷,并在410 ℃实现完全脱氧.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of Li-rich Li[Ni<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>]O<Subscript>2</Subscript> for pouch-typed cell

Layered transition metal oxide LiNi _x Co _y MnzO₂ cathode materials with different Li amount were successfully synthesized via co-precipitation method. Monodispersed Li[Ni_0.5Co_0.2Mn_0.3]O₂ and Li-rich Li_1.1[Ni_0.5Co_0.2Mn_0.3]O₂ spherical agglomeration consisted of secondary particles, which is favorable for the higher tap-density of materials, can be easily obtained. The pouch-typed cells with obtained materials were assembled to investigate electrochemical performance at level of full-cell. The results show that the assembled pouch-typed full-cells with Li-rich sample present higher capacity, better rate capability and cycle life.     

Study of the Influence Exerted by Zinc Additive on the Structure and Catalytic Properties of Pd/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Catalysts for Liquid-Phase Hydrogenation of Acetylene

Effect of the phase composition of aluminum oxide [γ- and (δ + θ) phase] and introduction of zinc additives on the catalytic properties of 0.5% Pd/Al₂O₃ systems in the reaction of liquid-phase hydrogenation of acetylene into ethylene under an elevated pressure in a flow-through mode was studied. An increase in the activity of the Pd catalyst upon modification with zinc is only observed in the case of a system supported by the mixed phase of (δ + θ) aluminum oxide. XAFS spectroscopy was used to find that the increase in the activity and selectivity with respect to ethylene (in the presence of carbon monoxide) on the (0.5% Pd–0.62% Zn)/(δ + θ)-Al2O3 catalyst is correlated with the formation of the PdZn intermetallic compound.     

Synthesis and characterization of La<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3±δ</Subscript> nanopowders by microwave assisted sol–gel route

Nano-crystalline La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3±δ powder has been successfully synthesized by microwave assisted sol–gel (MWSG) method. The decomposition and crystallization behavior of the gel-precursor was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. From the result of FT-IR and X-ray diffraction patterns, it is found that a perovskite La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3±δ was formed by irradiating the precursor at 700 W for 3 min, but the well-crystalline perovskite La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3±δ was obtained at 700 W for 35 min. Morphological and specific area analysis of the powder were done by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The surface areas measured was 38.9 m²/g and the grain size was ∼23 nm. Electrochemical properties of pure LSCF cathode on YSZ electrolyte at intermediate temperatures were investigated by using AC impedance analyzer, which shows a low area specific resistance (0.077 Ω cm² at 1073 K and 0.672 Ω cm² at 953 K). Moreover, the synthesis period of 20 h usually observed for conventional heating mode is reduced to a few minutes. Thus, the MWSG method is proved to be a novel, extremely facile, time-saving and energy-efficient route to synthesize LSCF powders.     

Inkjet printing of Ce<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Gd<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin films on Ni-5%W flexible substrates

The successful inkjet printing of a cerium gadolinium oxide (Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O₂) precursor solution on highly textured Ni-5%W is reported. A stable ink was synthesised from metal acetates and propionic acid with rheological properties suitable for inkjet printing and also the development of solid–liquid interface comparable with thin film formation by dip coating. Two different drop-on-demand print heads were used for deposition: a 16-nozzle piezoelectric cartridge and a single electromagnetic nozzle. Two different rastering patterns with different droplet sizes and spacing were compared. Thermogravimetry and X-ray diffractometry were used to study the thermal decomposition of the metal oxide precursors and to determine the shortest possible heat treatment of the deposited layers, potentially suitable for continuous large scale production. The results from X-ray diffraction show that the single phase Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O₂ was obtained in all cases, but only piezoelectric inkjet printing with optimised drop overlapping produces a highly textured buffer layer. Optical micrographs and atomic force microscopy also indicate the good quality of deposited films after heat treatment.