Effects of SO < inf> 2 /redox exposure on the microstructure of cerium-zirconium mixed metal oxides

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-12-2001

Abstract

Cerium-zirconium solid solutions were prepared and characterized to determine the effects of SO2/redox exposure on the microstructure of the crystallites. The mixed oxides were prepared via co-precipitation of cerium(IV) ammonium hydroxide and zirconium oxynitrate using ammonium hydroxide. The oxides were characterized prior to and after SO2 exposure to discern the effects of temperature and SO2 on crystallite properties. The samples were treated at 673 and 1073 K with a flow of 100 ppm SO2/balance N2 with a concomitant redox pulse of 5% H2/balance N2 and 5% 02/balance N2 on 10 s intervals. The cubic crystalline structure (CaF2) was observed and maintained for compositions ranging from 100 to 25 at.% cerium without indication of a separate tetragonal phase. While the cubic structure was maintained, the addition of zirconium in the cubic lattice reduced the cubic lattice parameter (ao) and the crystallite grain size. Under identical redox conditions and temperatures, exposure to SO2 resulted in smaller grain sizes, as calculated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, higher exposure temperatures resulted in larger crystallite grain sizes without altering the cubic lattice parameter. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) confirmed the absence of surface sulfur species, indicating sulfur dioxide alters the microstructure of the crystallites under redox conditions without the formation of cerium-zirconium chemisorbed sulfur species. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.

Publication Title

Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS