Controlled synthesis, characterization, and morphology-dependent reducibility of ceria-zirconia-yttria solid solutions with nanorod-like, microspherical, microbowknot-like, and micro-octahedral shapes

Abstract

By adopting the strategy of triblock copolymer (Pluronic P123) or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) assisted hydrothermal treatment, we fabricated cubic fluorite-type Ce(0.6)Zr(0.3)Y(0.1)O(2) (CZY) solid solution polycrystallites with various morphologies. These materials were characterized by means of techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, laser Raman, Fourier-transfer infrared spectroscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, and surface area measurements. It is found that the nanorod-like, microspherical, microbowknot-like, and micro-octahedral CZY particles were respectively generated hydrothermally with CTAB at 120 degrees C for 72 h and with P123 at 100, 120, and 240 degrees C for 48 h after calcination at 550 degrees C for 3 h. There was a copresence of Ce(3+) and Ce(4+) in the CZY samples that led to the formation of oxygen vacancies. We observed a good correlation of low-temperature reducibility with the morphology of the CZY samples. The reducibility of these nano- and micromaterials at low temperatures (240-550 degrees C) enhanced in the order micro-octahedral CZY < microspherical CZY < microbowknot-like CZY < nanorod-like CZY. The formation mechanism of CZY with various morphologies was discussed.