Colloidal properties of CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> hydrosols

CeO₂-ZrO₂ hydrosols are synthesized and the size, shape, phase composition, density, and electrophoretic mobility of particles are studied. The pH ranges of the stability of hydrosols and the thresholds of their fast coagulation in the presence of some electrolytes are determined. The nature of the aggregation stability of CeO₂-ZrO₂ hydrosols is discussed.     

CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-catalyzed ozonation of phenol

Three different cerium citrate-based precursors were used for synthesizing CeO₂ through thermal treatment. Three morphological types of CeO₂ were obtained. Characterization of these oxides was carried out by XRD patterns, SEM microscopy, N₂ adsorption isotherms, Raman spectroscopy, zeta potential, and UV/Vis luminescence. Ozonation of phenol catalyzed by CeO₂ was studied as a representative reaction of environmental interest. The differences on the catalytic activity showed by these three oxides could be correlated to amounts of Ce³⁺ on CeO₂ surface and, consequently, to the demand for oxygen needed to burn each precursor.     

Thermal synthesis of the CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-PrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Nd<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>pigments

Summary The synthesis of new compounds based on the CeO₂-PrO₂-Nd₂O₃system, which can be used as pigments for colouring of ceramic glazes, is investigated in our laboratory. The optimum conditions for the syntheses of these compounds have been estimated. The methods of thermal analysis provided first information about the temperature region of the formation of the pigments investigated. The synthesis of these compounds was followed by thermal analysis using STA 449/C Jupiter (Netzsch, Germany).     

ESR Study of the Formation of O<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> Radical Anions on Oxidized CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Adsorbing a CO + O<Subscript>2</Subscript> Mixture

It is demonstrated by ESR measurements that O ₂ ⁻ (CO + O₂) radical anions result from CO + O₂ adsorption on the oxidized surface of CeO₂. These radical anions are stabilized in the coordination sphere of Ce⁴⁺ cations located in isolated and associated anionic vacancies. This reaction shows an activation behavior determined by CO adsorption. The variation of O ₂ ⁻ (CO + O₂) concentration with CO adsorption temperature suggests that surface carbonates and carboxylates participate in this reaction. In the (0.5– 10.0)%CeO₂/ZrO₂ system, O ₂ ⁻ forms on supported CeO₂ and is stabilized on Ce⁴⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ cations. The stability of O ₂ ⁻ -Ce⁴⁺ complexes is lower on supported CeO₂ than on unsupported CeO₂, indicating a strong interaction between the cerium cations and the support.__________Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 46, No. 3, 2005, pp. 423–429.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Il’ichev, Kuli-zade, Korchak.     

Synthesis of highly ordered mesoporous CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and low temperature CO oxidation over Pd/mesoporous CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Highly ordered mesoporous cerium dioxide (meso-CeO₂) was successfully synthesized using a facile solvent-free infiltration method from a mesoporous silica template, KIT-6. The meso-CeO₂ material, thus obtained, exhibited well-defined mesostructure and high surface area (153 m² g⁻¹). The physicochemical properties of meso-CeO₂ material and Pd-supported on meso-CeO₂ (Pd/meso-CeO₂) were characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption–desorption, and temperature-programmed experiments. The Pd/meso-CeO₂ catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity for CO oxidation compared with those of other Pd/CeO₂ catalysts which were prepared using nanocrystalline CeO₂ and bulk-CeO₂ as the supports. Moreover, a hydrogen pretreatment of the Pd/meso-CeO₂ catalyst resulted in a remarkable increase of catalytic activity (T ₁₀₀ = 52 °C).     

Co oxidation with oxygen in the presence of hydrogen on CoO/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CuO/CoO/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The catalytic activity of the CoO/CeO₂ and CuO/CoO/CeO₂ systems in selective CO oxidation in the presence of hydrogen at 20–450°C ([CuO] = 1.0–2.5%, [CoO] = 1.0–7.0%) is reported. The maximum CO conversion (X) decreases in the following order: CuO/CoO/CeO₂ (X = 98–99%, T = 140–170°C) > CoO/CeO₂ (X = 67–84%, T = 230–240°C) > CeO₂ (X = 34%, T = 350°C). TPD, TPR, and EPR experiments have demonstrated that the high activity of CuO/CoO/CeO₂ is due to the strong interaction of the supported copper and cobalt oxides with cerium dioxide, which yields Cu-Co-Ce-O clusters on the surface. The carbonyl group in the complexes Co^δ+-CO and Cu⁺-CO is oxidized by oxygen of the Cu-Co-Ce-O clusters at 140–160°C and by oxygen of the Co-Ce-O clusters at 240°C. The decrease in the activity of the catalysts at high temperatures is due to the fact that hydrogen reduces the clusters on which CO oxidation takes place, yielding Co⁰ and Cu⁰ particles, which are inactive in CO oxidation. The hydrogenation of CO into methane at high temperatures is due to the appearance of Co⁰ particles in the catalysts.     

Thermal study of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> yellow ceramic pigment obtained by the Pechini method

TiO₂–CeO₂ oxides for application as ceramic pigments were synthesized by the Pechini method. In the present work the polymeric network of the pigment precursor was studied using thermal analysis. Results obtained using TG and DTA showed the occurrence of three main mass loss stages and profiles associated to the decomposition of the organic matter and crystallization. The kinetics of the degradation was evaluated by means of TG applying different heating rates. The activation energies (E _a) and reaction order (n) for each stage were determined using Horowitz–Metzger, Coats–Redfern, Kissinger and Broido methods. Values of E _a varying between 257–267 kJ mol^–1 and n=0–1 were found. According to the kinetic analysis the decomposition reactions were diffusion controlled.     

Performance and characterisation of CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Ce-Ti-W-O _x catalysts were prepared and applied to the NH₃-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reaction. The experimental results showed that the Ce-Ti-W-O _x catalyst prepared by the hydrothermal method exhibited higher NO conversion than those synthesised via the sol-gel and impregnating methods, while the optimal content of WO₃ and molar ratio of Ce/Ti were 20 mass % and 4: 6, respectively. Under these conditions, the catalyst exhibited the highest level of catalytic activity (the NO conversion reached values higher than 90 %) across a wide temperature range of 225–450°C, with a range of gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 40000–140000 h^?1. The catalyst also exhibited good resistance to H₂O and SO₂. The influences of morphology, phase structure, and surface properties on the catalytic performance were investigated by N₂ adsorption-desorption measurement, XRD, XPS, H₂-TPR, and SEM. It was found that the high efficiency of NO removal was due to the large BET surface area, the amorphous surface species, the change to element valence states, and the strong interaction between Ce, Ti, and W.     

Master sintering curve for Gd-doped CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> solid electrolytes

The sintering behavior of gadolinia-doped ceria powders was studied by the master sintering curve (MSC). Dilatometric analyses of powders produced by a soft chemical method were performed to provide the experimental data set for the construction of the MSC. The assumed model provided good fittings of the MSC and the activation energy for the sintering of Ce_1−x Gd _x O_3−δ, with x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 were found to be in the 218–325 KJ/mol range, depending on the dopant content. The results supported that both the nanometric size of the particles and the difference in ionic radii between Gd³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ affects the sintering of Gd-doped CeO₂.     

Enhanced visible light photocatalytic H<Subscript>2</Subscript> evolution over CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> loaded with Pt and CdS

CdS-Pt@CeO₂ ternary composites are successfully prepared by an in situ redox precipitation followed by a subsequent precipitation. The prepared CdS-Pt@CeO₂ sample exhibits high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution from lactic acid aqueous solution under visible light irradiation, with a H₂-evolation rate of 20.09 mmol h^?1g^?1 and apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 15.32%. With techniques such as XRD, TEM, DRS, XPS, N₂ adsorption/desorption and electrochemistry measurements, the physicochemical properties of the CdS-Pt@CeO₂ ternary composites are discussed, and a possible mechanism for the hydrogen evolution is proposed.     

Preparation and adsorption of magnetic Co<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>-chitosan nanoparticles

In this paper, magnetic chitosan microspheres were prepared by the emulsification cross-linking technique, with glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent, liquid paraffin as the dispersant, and the Span-80 as emulsifier. The time of cross-linking and the ratio of Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/chitosan were investigated. The morphology was studied by different instruments. The adsorption performance was investigated and the effects of initial concentration of methyl orange, the time of cross-linking, and the amount of adsorbent were discussed. It is found that the product has uniform morphology when the ratio of magnetic Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/chitosan is 1 : 2 and the time of cross-linking is 5 h; At room temperature, magnetic Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄–chitosan has a good adsorption toward methyl orange when the magnetic Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/chitosan dosage is 20 mg.     

Effect of humic acid on the solid phase stability and solubility of UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The stability and solubility of UO₂(OH)₂ has been studied as a function of the humic acid concentration in 0.1M NaClO₄, in the pH range from 4 to 7 under normal atmospheric conditions. The solid phase under investigation has been prepared by alkaline precipitation and characterized by TGA, ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM and solubility measurements. According to the experimental data UO₂(OH)₂ is stable and remains the solubility limiting solid phase even in the presence of increased humic acid concentration in the solution. However, humic acid affects texture and particle size of the solid phase. Increasing humic acid concentration results in decreasing crystallite size of the UO₂(OH)₂ solid phase. Based on the solubility data, the logK _sp (UO₂(OH)₂) has been evaluated to be −22.0±0.3 and the stability constant for the UO₂(OH)HA(I) species has been estimated to be logβ ₁₁₀₁ = 15.3±0.5.     

Synthesis of CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> hydrosols via peptization at room temperature

A procedure is developed for the synthesis of concentrated CeO₂-ZrO₂ hydrosols based on the peptization of a precipitate obtained by the hydrolysis of a cerium nitrate-zirconium oxynitrate mixture. The time intervals and optimum [H⁺]/[Me ⁿ⁺] molar ratios giving rise the formation of CeO₂-ZrO₂ hydrosols stable to aggregation with a narrow particle size distribution are established. The size, shape, density, and phase composition of the hydrosol particles are determined.     

Synthesis of CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> hydrosols via peptization at elevated temperature

A method for synthesizing aggregation-stable CeO₂-ZrO₂ hydrosols with different particle compositions is developed based on the peptization of hydrated oxide precipitates at elevated temperature. It is shown that, by varying heat treatment time, sols can be obtained with particles that have different degrees of crystallinity and sizes of no larger than 6 nm.     

Porous CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanorod-catalyzed synthesis of poly-substituted imino-pyrrolidine-thiones

Porous CeO₂ nanorod has been used as efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of highly functionalized imino-pyrrolidine-thiones via the reaction of aromatic aldehyde (especially one bearing an electron-donating group), malononitrile, isocyanide and unactivated weakly acidic heterocyclic thiophenol. The high catalytic efficiency of porous CeO₂ nanorod in this reaction was discussed preliminarily based on their morphology and structure.     

Carbon black oxidation mechanism in loose and tight contacts with Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The catalytic combustion of carbon black was investigated in the presence of CeO₂ and Al₂O₃. The influence of contact type between carbon particles and these oxides was examined by thermal analysis, the BET specific area, and EPR spectroscopy. For tight contact carbon black-catalyst mixtures, a new paramagnetic species is observed and can be considered as a fingerprint of the contact between the two solids. These new paramagnetic species increase the reactivity of the catalytic reaction of carbon black (CB) combustion and take part in the oxidation mechanism of CB. Published in Russian in Kinetika i Kataliz, 2007, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 899–904. This article was submitted by the authors in English.