CO2 Reduction by Hydrogen Pre-Reduced Acceptor-Doped Ceria

The reactivity of H₂ pre-reduced acceptor-doped ceria materials Gd_0.10Ce_0.90O_2-δ (GDC10) and Sm_0.15Ce_0.85O_2-δ (SDC15) was tested with respect to the reduction of CO₂ to CO in the context of the reverse water-gas shift reaction. It was demonstrated that not only oxygen vacancies, but also dissolved hydrogen is a reactive species for the reduction of CO₂. Dissolved hydrogen must be considered upon discussion of the mechanism of the reverse water-gas shift reaction on ceria-derived materials apart from oxygen vacancies and formates. The reduction of CO₂ is preceded by the formation of carbonate species of different thermal stability and reactivity. The stability of these carbonates was directly demonstrated by in situ infrared spectroscopy and revealed the largely reversible nature of CO₂ ad- and desorption. In comparison to pre-reduced samples, decreased carbonate coverage is obtained after oxidative treatments of GDC10 and SDC15. No significant effect of the sample treatment (O₂ oxidation or H₂ reduction) on the surface carbonate stability was noticed. Mono-dentate carbonates and carboxylates appear to be more easily formed on pre-reduced (i. e. defective) samples. Ce⁴⁺ reduction to Ce³⁺ (by H₂) and re-oxidation to Ce⁴⁺ (by CO₂) on GDC10/SDC15 were directly monitored by infrared spectroscopic analysis of a distinct, IR-active electronic transition of Ce³⁺. These results show the complex interplay of oxygen vacancy/dissolved hydrogen reactivity and surface chemical aspects in acceptor-doped ceria materials.