Surface Chemistry of Nanocrystalline Cerium Oxide

Abstract

ABSTRACTNanocrystalline cerium oxide was synthesized by magnetron sputtering of a metallic target, followed by controlled post-oxidation. The resulting cerium oxide clusters were <10 nm in size, and highly non-stoichiometric in nature. The oxygen deficiency of such materials was associated with the unusual catalytic activity in oxidation and redox reactions. This paper compares the surface chemistry of nanocrystalline CeO2−x with stoichiometric CeO2. It further explores the promoting effect of Cu-doping on surface reduction and oxidation.The oxidation states of metal cations were examined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy after various oxidizing and reducing heat treatments in a connected reaction chamber. Isothermal pulsed reduction and oxidation of the samples were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Reduction properties of the different materials are discussed in terms of their microstructure, oxygen deficiency and chemical composition. These studies will help to understand the importance of bulk defects and synergistic effects in multicomponent and multiphase materials for high surface reactivity.