Improvement of physico-chemical properties by addition of H2O2: An extensive case study on the RE-doped ceria system (RE = Gd, Sm)

Abstract

Effect of H2O2 on synthesis and powder properties such as surface area and agglomerate size of nanocrystalline Ce0.8M0.2O1.90 (M: Sm, Gd) was explored by treating cerium nitrate and rare-earth nitrate with NaOH in the presence/absence of H2O2. The resultant products were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetry–differential thermal analysis, dynamic light scattering, surface area analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The presence of H2O2 was found to have a profound effect on powder properties such as surface area and particle size of these doped ceria samples and results in smaller crystallite size, softer agglomerates, and larger surface area. A mechanism is proposed to explain the observed better powder properties of the samples. It was also shown that the samples prepared in the presence of H2O2 can lower the conversion temperature of CO to CO2, proving these to be better catalysts. Interestingly, temperature-programmed reduction studies on Sm3+-doped samples showed that the doping in conjunction with the use of H2O2 leads to enhanced reduction properties of the samples over multiple cycles.