Microstructural investigation of ceria-zirconia solid solution with oxygen vacancies

The microstructural change in CeO2-ZrO2 solid solution (Ce2Zr2O7+x; 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1) with an ordered arrangement of Ce and Zr associated with the absorption/release of oxygen was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The oxidation of Ce2Zr2O7 was observed in TEM by electron diffraction analysis. The change in the electron diffraction pattern shows that Ce2Zr2O7 was easily oxidized in the TEM and that the oxidation was completed, giving an intermediate phase Ce2Zr2O7.5. Three different lattice images corresponding to x = 0, 0.5 and 1.0 were observed in high-resolution photographs of Ce2Zr2O7+x. This difference in contrast image may be used for determining the local amount of oxygen absorbed.