A theoretic insight into the catalytic activity promotion of CeO2 surfaces by Mn doping

In this paper, we investigated the primary reduction and oxygen replenishing processes over Mn substitutionally doped CeO(2)(111) surfaces by density functional theory with the on-site Coulomb correction (DFT + U). The results indicated that Mn doping could make the surface much more reducible and the adsorbed O(2) could be effectively activated to form superoxo (O(2)(-)) and/or peroxo species (O(2)(2-)). The Mn doping induced the Mn 3d-O 2p gap state instead of Ce 4f acting as an electrons acceptor and donor during the first oxygen vacancy formation and O(2) replenishing, which helped to lower the formation energy of the first and second oxygen vacancies to -0.46 eV and 1.40 eV, respectively. In contrast, the formation energy of a single oxygen vacancy in the pure ceria surface was 2.08 eV and only peroxo species were identified as the O(2) molecule adsorbed. Our work provides a theoretical and electronic insight into the catalytic redox processes of Mn doped ceria surfaces, which may help to understand the enhanced catalytic performances of MnO(x)-CeO(2) oxides, as reported in previous experimental works.     

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.     

A new type of strong metal-support interaction and the production of H2 through the transformation of water on Pt/CeO2(111) and Pt/CeO(x)/TiO2(110) catalysts

The electronic properties of Pt nanoparticles deposited on CeO(2)(111) and CeO(x)/TiO(2)(110) model catalysts have been examined using valence photoemission experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The valence photoemission and DFT results point to a new type of "strong metal-support interaction" that produces large electronic perturbations for small Pt particles in contact with ceria and significantly enhances the ability of the admetal to dissociate the O-H bonds in water. When going from Pt(111) to Pt(8)/CeO(2)(111), the dissociation of water becomes a very exothermic process. The ceria-supported Pt(8) appears as a fluxional system that can change geometry and charge distribution to accommodate adsorbates better. In comparison with other water-gas shift (WGS) catalysts [Cu(111), Pt(111), Cu/CeO(2)(111), and Au/CeO(2)(111)], the Pt/CeO(2)(111) surface has the unique property that the admetal is able to dissociate water in an efficient way. Furthermore, for the codeposition of Pt and CeO(x) nanoparticles on TiO(2)(110), we have found a transfer of O from the ceria to Pt that opens new paths for the WGS process and makes the mixed-metal oxide an extremely active catalyst for the production of hydrogen.     

Density functional studies of model cerium oxide nanoparticles

Density functional plane-wave calculations have been performed to investigate a series of ceria nanoparticles (CeO2-x)(n), n Ce3+ reduction have been accounted for through the use of an effective on-site Coulomb repulsive interaction within the so-called DFT+U approach. Twelve nanoparticles of up to 2 nm in diameter and of both cuboctahedral and octahedral forms are chosen as representative model systems. Energetic and structural effects of oxygen vacancy formation in these nanoparticles are discussed with respect to those in the bulk and on extended surfaces. We show that the average interatomic distances of the nanoparticles are most significantly affected by the creation of oxygen vacancies. The formation energies of non-stoichiometric nanoparticles (CeO2-x)(n) are found to scale linearly with the average coordination number of Ce atoms; where x < 0 species, containing partially reduced O atoms, are less stable. The stability of octahedral ceria particles at small sizes, and the predicted strong propensity of Ce cations to acquire a reduced state at lower coordinated sites, is supported by interatomic potential-based global optimisations probing the low energy isomers of the Ce19O32 nanoparticle.     

Enhanced reactivity of Pt nanoparticles supported on ceria thin films during ethylene dehydrogenation

The adsorption and reaction of ethylene on Pt/CeO(2-x)/Cu(111) model catalysts were studied by means of high resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (HR-PES) in conjunction with resonant photoemission spectroscopy (RPES). The dehydrogenation mechanism is compared to the HR-PES data obtained on a Pt(111) single crystal under identical conditions. It was found that the Pt nanoparticle system shows a substantially enhanced reactivity and several additional reaction pathways. In sharp contrast to Pt(111), partial dehydrogenation of ethylene on the supported Pt nanoparticles already starts at temperatures as low as 100 K. Similar to the single crystal surface, dehydrogenation occurs via the isomer ethylidene (CHCH(3)) and then mainly via ethylidyne (CCH(3)). In the temperature region between 100 and 250 K there is strong evidence for spillover of hydrocarbon fragments to the ceria support. In addition, splitting of ethylene to C(1) fragments is more facile than on Pt(111), giving rise to the formation of CH species and CO in the temperature region between 250 and 400 K. Upon further annealing, carbonaceous deposits are formed at 450 K. By heating to 700 K, these carbon deposits are completely removed from the surface by reaction with oxygen, provided by reverse spillover of oxygen from the ceria support.     

Atomic and electronic structure of unreduced and reduced CeO2 surfaces: a first-principles study

The atomic and electronic structure of (111), (110), and (100) surfaces of ceria (CeO2) were studied using density-functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. Both stoichiometric surfaces and surfaces with oxygen vacancies (unreduced and reduced surfaces, respectively) have been examined. It is found that the (111) surface is the most stable among the considered surfaces, followed by (110) and (100) surfaces, in agreement with experimental observations and previous theoretical results. Different features of relaxation are found for the three surfaces. While the (111) surface undergoes very small relaxation, considerably larger relaxations are found for the (110) and (100) surfaces. The formation of an oxygen vacancy is closely related to the surface structure and occurs more easily for the (110) surface than for (111). The preferred vacancy location is in the surface layer for CeO2(110) and in the subsurface layer (the second O-atomic layer) for CeO2(111). For both surfaces, the O vacancy forms more readily than in the bulk. An interesting oscillatory behavior is found for the vacancy formation energy in the upper three layers of CeO2(111). Analysis of the reduced surfaces suggests that the additional charge resulting from the formation of the oxygen vacancies is localized in the first three layers of the surface. Furthermore, they are not only trapped in the 4f states of cerium.     

On the adsorption and formation of Pt dimers on the CeO2(111) surface

The direct adsorption of Pt(2) dimers on CeO(2)(111) and their formation from isolated adsorbed Pt atoms have been studied using periodic slab model calculations based on density functional theory and including the so-called on-site Hubbard parameter (GGA + U). In the most stable configuration Pt(2) is found to be almost parallel to the surface; the electronic ground state is closed shell and there is no evidence of charge transfer towards or from the surface. The formation of Pt(2) from two single adsorbed Pt atoms involves a rather small energy barrier of ~0.10 eV only. On the contrary, dissociation of adsorbed Pt(2) requires to overcome a considerable barrier of ~1.43 eV. This indicates that once Pt(2) is formed it will remain on the surface, thus likely triggering the growth of larger supported Pt particles.     

Thermodynamic, electronic and structural properties of Cu/CeO2 surfaces and interfaces from first-principles DFT+U calculations

The thermodynamic, structural and electronic properties of Cu-CeO(2) (ceria) surfaces and interfaces are investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT+U) calculations. We focus on model systems consisting of Cu atoms (i) supported by stoichiometric and reduced CeO(2) (111) surfaces, (ii) dispersed as substitutional solid solution at the same surface, as well as on (iii) the extended Cu(111)/CeO(2)(111) interface. Extensive charge reorganization at the metal-oxide contact is predicted for ceria-supported Cu adatoms and nanoparticles, leading to Cu oxidation, ceria reduction, and interfacial Ce(3+) ions. The calculated thermodynamics predict that Cu adatoms on stoichiometric surfaces are more stable than on O vacancies of reduced surfaces at all temperatures and pressures relevant for catalytic applications, even in extremely reducing chemical environments. This suggests that supported Cu nanoparticles do not nucleate at surface O vacancies of the oxide, at variance with many other metal/ceria systems. In oxidizing conditions, the solid solutions are shown to be more stable than the supported systems. Substitutional Cu ions form characteristic CuO(4) units. These promote an easy and reversible O release without the reduction of Ce ions. The study of the extended CeO(2)(111)/Cu(111) interface predicts the full reduction of the interfacial ceria trilayer. Cu nanoparticles supported by ceria are proposed to lie above a subsurface layer of Ce(3+) ions that extends up to the perimeter of the metal-oxide interface.     

Effects of Zr doping on stoichiometric and reduced ceria: a first-principles study

The Zr doping in CeO(2) may change the reduction properties and therefore the redox properties of CeO(2). Using first-principles density functional theory with the inclusion of on-site Coulomb interaction for a 96-atom supercell, these effects are studied by comparing the differences in atomic structures, electronic structures, and reduction energies of the doped CeO(2) and those of the nondoped CeO(2). It is found that (1) Zr doping of the ceria structure results in important modifications involving nonequivalent O atoms; (2) the oxygen anions (still four-coordinated) next to the doping center show considerably lower reduction energies (by 0.6 eV) and larger displacements ("higher mobilities"); (3) an O vacancy is most easily created close to the Zr centers, therefore the Zr-doping centers might serve as nucleation centers for vacancy clustering; and (4) the electrons left by the released oxygen localize on two Ce cations neighboring the vacancy, which results in the reduction of two Ce(4+) ions.     

CO在CeO2(111)表面的吸附与氧化

采用密度泛函理论计算了CO在CeO2(111)表面的吸附与氧化反应行为. 结果表明, O2在洁净的CeO2(111)表面为弱物理吸附, 而在氧空位表面是强化学吸附, 且O2分子活化程度较大, O—O键长为0.143 nm. CO在CeO2(111)表面吸附行为的研究表明, CO在洁净表面及氧空位表面上为物理吸附, 吸附能均小于0.42 eV; 当表面氧空位吸附O2后, CO可吸附生成二齿碳酸盐中间体或直接生成CO2, 与原位红外光谱结果相一致. 表面碳酸盐物种脱附生成CO2的能垒仅为0.28 eV. 计算结果表明, 当CeO2表面存在氧空位时, Hubbard参数U对CO吸附能有一定的影响. CeO2载体在氧化反应中可能的催化作用为, 在氧气氛下, CeO2表面氧空位吸附O2分子, 形成活性氧物种, 参与CO催化氧化反应.     

The synergistic effects of the Cu-CeO2(111) catalysts on the adsorption and dissociation of water molecules

The interaction of water molecules with the Cu-CeO(2)(111) catalyst (Cu/CeO(2) and Cu(0.08)Ce(0.92)O(2)) is studied systematically by using the DFT+U method. Although both molecular and dissociative adsorption states of water are observed on all the considered Cu-CeO(2)(111) systems, the dissociation is preferable thermodynamically. Furthermore, the dissociation of water molecule relates to the geometric structure (e.g. whether or not there are oxygen vacancies; whether or not the reduced substrate retains a fluorite structure) and the electronic structure (e.g. whether or not there is reduced cerium, Ce(3+)) of the substrate.In addition, the adsorption of water molecules induces variations of the electronic structure of the substrate, especially for Cu/CeO(2-x)(111)-B (a Cu atom adsorbed symmetrically above the vacancy of the reduced ceria) and highly reduced Cu(0.08)Ce(0.92)O(2)(111), i.e. the Cu(0.08)Ce(0.92)O(2-x)(111)-h. The variations of electronic structure promote the dissociation of water for the highly reduced system Cu(0.08)Ce(0.92)O(2-x)(111)-h. More importantly, the improvement of WGS reaction by Cu-ceria is expected to be by the associative route through different intermediates.     

Oxidising CO to CO2 using ceria nanoparticles

We calculate, using simulated amorphisation and recrystallisation (A&R), that ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles, about 8 nm in diameter, comprise a high concentration of labile surface oxygen species, which we suggest will help promote the oxidation of CO to CO2. In particular, the ceria nanoparticle contains a high proportion of reactive {100} surfaces, surface steps and corner sites. When reduced to CeO1.95, the associated Ce3+ species and oxygen vacancies decorate step, corner and {100} sites in addition to plateau positions on {111}. The energetics of CO oxidation to CO2, catalysed by a ceria nanoparticle, is calculated to be lower compared with CO oxidation associated with the lowest energy surface (i.e. CeO2(111)) of the corresponding 'bulk' material. Our calculated morphologies for the ceria nanoparticles are in accord with experiment.     

Growth, structure, and stability of ceria films on Si(111) and the application of CaF2 buffer layers

The growth of ceria (CeO2) films by oxidation of evaporated Ce metal on Si(111) and on CaF2(111) epilayers on Si(111) is compared. By use of XPS, UPS, and LEED, it has been demonstrated that the application of a CaF2 buffer layer between the ceria and Si substrate prevents the formation of an amorphous oxidized Si layer at the interface and permits the growth of a well-defined epitaxial ceria layer of (111) surface orientation. The thermal stability of the CeO2/CaF2/Si(111) interface structure is limited by the solid-state reaction between CaF2 and ceria. This leads to gradual migration of fluorine into the oxide at elevated temperatures to give a solid-state solution of fluorine in the partially reduced oxide. An analysis of the composition observed after extensive annealing in a vacuum suggests that, with initial layers of CaF2 and CeO2 of similar thickness, the ultimate product may be CeOF. The onset of this solid-state reaction can, however, be significantly delayed by annealing under an oxygen atmosphere.     

Enhanced reducibility of Ce1-xTixO2 compared to that of CeO2 and higher redox catalytic activity of Ce1-x-yTixPtyO2-delta compared to that of Ce1-xPtxO2-delta

Nanocrystalline Ce(1)(-)(x)Ti(x)O(2) (0 < or = x < or = 0.4) and Ce(1-)(x)(-)(y)Ti(x)Pt(y)O(2)(-)(delta) (x = 0.15, y = 0.01, 0.02) solid solutions crystallizing in fluorite structure have been prepared by a single step solution combustion method. Temperature programmed reduction and XPS study of Ce(1)(-)(x)Ti(x)O(2) (x = 0.0-04) show complete reduction of Ti(4+) to Ti(3+) and reduction of approximately 20% Ce(4+) to Ce(3+) state compared to 8% Ce(4+) to Ce(3+) in the case of pure CeO(2) below 675 degrees C. The substitution of Ti ions in CeO(2) enhances the reducibility of CeO(2). Ce(0.84)Ti(0.15)Pt(0.01)O(2)(-)(delta) crystallizes in fluorite structure and Pt is ionically substituted with 2+ and 4+ oxidation states. The H/Pt atomic ratio at 30 degrees C over Ce(0.84)Ti(0.15)Pt(0.01)O(2)(-)(delta) is 5 and that over Ce(0.99)Pt(0.01)O(2)(-)(delta) is 4 against just 0.078 for 8 nm Pt metal particles. Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon oxidation activity are much higher over Ce(1-)(x)(-)(y)Ti(x)Pt(y)O(2) (x = 0.15, y = 0.01, 0.02) compared to Ce(1)(-)(x)Pt(x)O(2) (x = 0.01, 0.02). Synergistic involvement of Pt(2+)/Pt degrees and Ti(4+)/Ti(3+) redox couples in addition to Ce(4+)/Ce(3+) due to the overlap of Pt(5d), Ti(3d), and Ce(4f) bands near E(F) is shown to be responsible for improved redox property and higher catalytic activity.     

In situ characterization of Pt catalysts supported on ceria modified TiO2 for the WGS reaction: influence of ceria loading

This work analyzes the influence of cerium content (6-15 wt%) on a TiO(2) support over the structure and water gas shift (WGS) activity of Pt catalysts. The structural properties of these Pt/Ce-TiO(2) catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM and XANES. Physicochemical characterization of the catalysts showed differences in the structure and dispersion of Ce entities on the support with Ce loading. For the samples with low ceria content (6 wt%), cerium is deposited on the support in the form of CeO(x) clusters in a highly dispersed state in close interaction with the Ti atoms. The formation of CeO(x) clusters at low Ce-loading on the support facilitates the dispersion of small particles of Pt and improves the reducibility of ceria component at low temperatures. The changes in platinum dispersion and support reducibility with Ce-loading on the TiO(2) support lead to significant differences in the WGS activity. Pt supported on the sample with lower Ce content (6 wt%) shows better activity than those corresponding to catalysts with higher Ce content (15 wt%). Activity measurements coupled with catalysts characterization suggest that the improvement in the reducibility of the support with lower Ce content was associated with the presence of CeO(x) clusters of high reducibility that improve the chemical activity of the oxide-metal interfaces at which the WGS reaction takes place.     

Raman analysis of mode softening in nanoparticle CeO(2-δ) and Au-CeO(2-δ) during CO oxidation

Oxygen vacancy levels are monitored during the oxidation of CO by CeO(2-δ) nanorods and Au-CeO(2-δ) nanorods, nanocubes, and nanopolyhedra by using Raman scattering. The first-order CeO(2) F(2g) peak near 460 cm(-1) decreases when this reaction is fast (fast reduction and relatively slow reoxidation of the surface), because of the lattice expansion that occurs when Ce(3+) replaces Ce(4+) during oxygen vacancy creation. This shift correlates with reactivity for CO oxidation. Increases in the oxygen deficit δ as large as ~0.04 are measured relative to conditions when the ceria is not reduced.     

Facile synthesis of 3D flowerlike CeO2 microspheres under mild condition with high catalytic performance for CO oxidation

Three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical flowerlike CeO(2) microspheres with 5-8μm diameter were hydrothermally synthesized by using multiple surfactants at very mild condition (100°C) and characterized by XRD, low-temperature N(2) adsorption, SEM, TEM, TG, FT-IR, and UV-vis spectroscopies. The results show that the flowerlike ceria prepared with the co-surfactant of sodium dodecyl sulfonic and PEG 600 possesses multilevel pore structure and low band gap energy. A possible formation mechanism of flowerlike ceria is that 3D flowerlike microspheres are assembled by 1D nanowires formed through an aggregation of 0D nanoparticles. Based on the unique structure and morphology, the prepared flowerlike CeO(2) exhibits more amount of surface capping oxygen, higher concentrations of Ce(3+) and O vacancy, and more (100) lattice planes, resulting in its higher catalytic activity for CO oxidation than general bulk ceria. Furthermore, photoluminescence property testing shows that flowerlike CeO(2) exhibits the violet blue light emission with a blue shift, because of the quantum size effect, differing from general ceria.     

Oxygen vacancy formation energy in Pd-doped ceria: a DFT+U study

Using the DFT+U method, i.e., first principles density functional theory calculations with the inclusion of on-site Coulomb interaction, the effects of Pd doping on the O vacancy formation energy (E(vac)) in CeO(2) has been studied. We find that E(vac) is lowered from 3.0 eV in undoped ceria to 0.6 eV in the Pd-doped compound. Much of this decrease can be attributed to emerging Pd-induced gap states above the valence band and below the empty Ce 4f states. These localized defect states involve the Pd ion and its nearest neighbors, which are also the main acceptors of the extra electrons left on reduction. The effect of the Pd dopant on the geometric structure is very modest for CeO(2) but considerable for CeO(2-x).     

SOx on ceria from adsorbed SO2

Results from first-principles calculations present a rather clear picture of the interaction of SO(2) with unreduced and partially reduced (111) and (110) surfaces of ceria. The Ce(3+)∕Ce(4+) redox couple, together with many oxidation states of S, give rise to a multitude of SO(x) species, with oxidation states from +III to +VI. SO(2) adsorbs either as a molecule or attaches via its S-atom to one or two surface oxygens to form sulfite (SO(3)(2-)) and sulfate (SO(4)(2-)) species, forming new S-O bonds but never any S-Ce bonds. Molecular adsorption is found on the (111) surface. SO(3)(2-) structures are found on both the (111) and (110) surfaces of both stoichiometric and partially reduced ceria. SO(4)(2-) structures are observed on the (110) surface together with the formation of two reduced Ce(3+) surface cations. SO(2) can also partially heal the ceria oxygen vacancies by weakening a S-O bond, when significant electron transfer from the surface (Ce4f) into the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the SO(2) adsorbate takes place and oxidizes the surface Ce(3+) cations. Furthermore, we propose a mechanism that could lead to monodentate sulfate formation at the (111) surface.     

On the interaction of Mg with the (111) and (110) surfaces of ceria

The catalytic activity of cerium dioxide can be modified by deposition of alkaline earth oxide layers or nanoparticles or by substitutional doping of metal cations at the Ce site in ceria. In order to understand the effect of Mg oxide deposition and doping, a combination of experiment and first principles simulations is a powerful tool. In this paper, we examine the interaction of Mg with the ceria (111) surface using both angle resolved X-ray (ARXPS) and resonant (RPES) photoelectron spectroscopy measurements and density functional theory (DFT) corrected for on-site Coulomb interactions (DFT + U). With DFT + U, we also examine the interaction of Mg with the ceria (110) surface. The experiments show that upon deposition of Mg, Ce ions are reduced to Ce(3+), while Mg is oxidised. When Mg is incorporated into ceria, no reduced Ce(3+) ions are found and oxygen vacancies are present. The DFT + U simulations show that each Mg that is introduced leads to formation of two reduced Ce(3+) ions. When Mg is incorporated at a Ce site in the (111) surface, one oxygen vacancy is formed for each Mg to compensate the different valencies, so that all Ce ions are oxidised. The behaviour of Mg upon interaction with the (110) surface is the same as with the (111) surface. The combined results provide a basis for deeper insights into the catalytic behaviour of ceria-based mixed oxide catalysts.