Journal article

Authors list: Prates da Costa, Eric; Huang, Xiaohui; Kübel, Christian; Cheng, Xiaoyin; Schladitz, Katja; Hofmann, Alexander; Göbel, Ulrich; Smarsly, Bernd M.

Publication year: 2022

Pages: 177-191

Journal: Langmuir

Volume number: 39

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0743-7463

eISSN: 1520-5827

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02366

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Abstract: 

Pore size and pore connectivity control diffusion-based transport in mesopores, a crucial property governing the performance of heterogeneous catalysts. In many cases, transition-metal oxide catalyst materials are prepared from molecular precursors involving hydrothermal treatment followed by heat treatment. Here, we investigate the effects of such a hydrothermal aftertreatment step, using an aqueous ammonia solution, on the disordered mesopore network of CexZr1–x–y–zYyLazO2−δ mixed oxides. This procedure is a common synthesis step in the preparation of such ceria-based oxygen storage materials applied in three-way catalysis, employed to improve the materials’ thermal stability. We perform state-of-the-art Ar-physisorption analysis, especially advanced hysteresis scanning, to paint a detailed picture of the alterations in mesopore space caused by the hydrothermal aftertreatment and subsequent aging at 1050 °C. Furthermore, we investigate the network characteristics by electron tomography in combination with suitable statistical analysis, enabling a consistent interpretation of the desorption scans (physisorption). The results indicate that the hydrothermal aftertreatment enhances the mesopore connectivity of the continuous 3D network by widening pores and especially necks, hence facilitating accessibility to the particles’ internal surface area and the ability to better withstand high temperatures.

Harvard Citation style: Prates da Costa, E., Huang, X., Kübel, C., Cheng, X., Schladitz, K., Hofmann, A., et al. (2022) Effects of Hydrothermal Treatment on Mesopore Structure and Connectivity in Doped Ceria-Zirconia Mixed Oxides, Langmuir, 39(1), pp. 177-191. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02366

APA Citation style: Prates da Costa, E., Huang, X., Kübel, C., Cheng, X., Schladitz, K., Hofmann, A., Göbel, U., & Smarsly, B. (2022). Effects of Hydrothermal Treatment on Mesopore Structure and Connectivity in Doped Ceria-Zirconia Mixed Oxides. Langmuir. 39(1), 177-191. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02366