Nanosized CeO2–SiO2, CeO2–TiO2, and CeO2–ZrO2 Mixed Oxides: Influence of Supporting Oxide on Thermal Stability and Oxygen Storage Properties of Ceria

The influence of SiO2, TiO2, and ZrO2 on the structural and redox properties of CeO2 were systematically investigated by various techniques namely, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM), BET surface area, and thermogravimetry methods. The effect of supporting oxides on the crystal modification of ceria was also mainly focused. The investigated oxides were obtained by soft chemical routes with ultrahigh dilute solutions and were subjected to thermal treatments from 773 to 1073 K. The XRD results suggest that the CeO2–SiO2 sample primarily consists of nanocrystalline CeO2 on the amorphous SiO2 surface. Both crystalline CeO2 and TiO2-anatase phases were noted in the case of CeO2–TiO2 sample. Formation of cubic Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 and Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 (at 1073 K) were observed in the case of CeO2–ZrO2 sample. The cell ‘a’ parameter estimations revealed an expansion of the ceria lattice in the case of CeO2–TiO2, while a contraction is noted in the case of CeO2–ZrO2. The DRS studies suggest that the supporting oxides significantly influence the band gap energy of CeO2. Raman measurements disclose the presence of oxygen vacancies, lattice defects, and displacement of oxide ions from their normal lattice positions in the case of CeO2–TiO2 and CeO2–ZrO2 samples. The XPS studies revealed the presence of silica, titania, and zirconia in their highest oxidation states, Si(IV), Ti(IV), and Zr(IV) at the surface of the materials. Cerium is present in both Ce4+ and Ce3+ oxidation states. The HREM results reveal well-dispersed CeO2 nanocrystals over the amorphous SiO2 matrix in the case of CeO2–SiO2, isolated CeO2 and TiO2 (A) nanocrystals and some overlapping regions in the case of CeO2–TiO2, and nanosized CeO2 and Ce–Zr oxides in the case of CeO2–ZrO2 sample. The exact structural features of these crystals as determined by digital diffraction analysis of HREM experimental images reveal that the CeO2 is mainly in cubic fluorite geometry. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC) as determined by thermogravimetry reveals that the OSC of mixed oxides is more than that of pure CeO2 and the CeO2–ZrO2 exhibits highest OSC.