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At least 19 records

Defect accumulation in swift heavy ion-irradiated CeO 2 and ThO 2

Here, neutron total scattering was used to investigate defect accumulation mechanisms in CeO 2 and ThO 2 irradiated with 2.2 GeV Au ions. Pair distribution function (PDF) analysis was applied to characterize the local structural evolution and irradiation-induced defects as a function of irradiation fluence. CeO 2 exhibits a greater amount of disorder than ThO 2 under the same irradiation conditions. The local structures of the two materials evolve differently as a function of ion fluence, even if similar defects are produced. The PDF analysis indicates that oxygen dimer and/or peroxide defects with distances of ~1.45 Å are formed in CeO 2 , while irradiation-induced defects in ThO 2 result in a change in the mean O–Th–O bond angle and a distortion of local ThO 8 polyhedra. Understanding how bound oxygen defects, such as peroxide, affect bulk oxygen transport in CeO 2 will aid in better predicting and improving properties of fluorite structure materials for fast ion conductor applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Adsorption and Reaction of Methanol over CeO X (100) Thin Films

Methanol was adsorbed on oxidized and reduced CeO X (100) thin films to probe the active sites and reaction selectivity of these surfaces compared to those of CeO X (111). Roughly twice as much methoxy was formed on oxidized CeO 2 (100) compared to that formed on CeO 2 (111). In addition to more methoxy, hydroxyl is also more stable on CeO 2 (100). Unlike on CeO 2 (111), however, methanol on CeO 2 (100) produced CO, CO 2 , and H 2 in addition to water and formaldehyde. The behavior of CeO 2 (100) is related to its surface structure, which provides greater access to Ce cations and therefore more active adsorption sites and more highly undercoordinated Ce and O. The undercoordinated O may explain the enhanced dehydrogenation activity leading to CO and H 2 formation. The reduction of ceria leads to increased methanol uptake on both CeO 2 – X (100) and CeO 2 – X (111). However, although the uptake doubled on reduced CeO 2 – X (111) compared to the oxidized surface, it increased by only 10% on reduced CeO 2 – X (100) compared to that on fully oxidized CeO 2 (100). Reduction of both surfaces leads to a greater production of CO and H 2 . Reaction on all surfaces progresses rapidly from methoxy to products. Lastly, there is no spectroscopic evidence of formyl or formate intermediates. On CeO X (100), carbonate is detected that decomposes into CO 2 at high temperature.

Albrecht, P↗

Mixed cerium-platinum oxides: Electronic structure of [CeO]Pt{sub n} (n = 1, 2) and [CeO{sub 2}]Pt complex anions and neutrals

The electronic structures of several small Ce–Pt oxide complexes were explored using a combination of anion photoelectron (PE) spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. Pt and Pt{sub 2} both accept electron density from CeO diatomic molecules, in which the cerium atom is in a lower-than-bulk oxidation state (+2 versus bulk +4). Neutral [CeO]Pt and [CeO]Pt{sub 2} complexes are therefore ionic, with electronic structures described qualitatively as [CeO{sup +2}]Pt{sup −2} and [CeO{sup +}]Pt{sub 2}{sup −}, respectively. The associated anions are described qualitatively as [CeO{sup +}]Pt{sup −2} and [CeO{sup +}]Pt{sub 2}{sup −2}, respectively. In both neutrals and anions, the most stable molecular structures determined by calculations feature a distinct CeO moiety, with the positively charged Ce center pointing toward the electron rich Pt or Pt{sub 2} moiety. Spectral simulations based on calculated spectroscopic parameters are in fair agreement with the spectra, validating the computationally determined structures. In contrast, when Pt is coupled with CeO{sub 2}, which has no Ce-localized electrons that can readily be donated to Pt, the anion is described as [CeO{sub 2}]Pt{sup −}. The molecular structure predicted computationally suggests that it is governed by charge-dipole interactions. The neutral [CeO{sub 2}]Pt complex lacks charge-dipole stabilizing interactions, and is predicted to be structurally very different from the anion, featuring a single Pt–O–Ce bridge bond. The PE spectra of several of the complexes exhibit evidence of photodissociation with Pt{sup −} daughter ion formation. The electronic structures of these complexes are related to local interactions in Pt-ceria catalyst-support systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Microstructural characterization and equibiaxial flexural strength of CeO 2 and Ti-doped CeO 2

In this study, the synthesis of CeO 2 and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) doped CeO 2 (TDC) monoliths are investigated, and their fracture strength is assessed using an equibiaxial flexure testing technique at room temperature. Pellets were synthesized using conventional powder processing and sintering methods to produce the desired characteristics. The TiO 2 dopant concentration was optimized at 0.1 wt % TiO 2 to obtain dense, solid-solution pellets with an enhanced grain microstructure. A ball-on-ring fixture was used to obtain the TRS and Weibull parameters of over 30 pellets for CeO 2 and 0.1 wt % TDC to compare fracture behavior. The TRS of CeO 2 pellets ranged from 88 to 160 MPa and the TRS of 0.1 wt % TDC pellets ranged from 102 to 171 MPa, both being consistent with published values. Weibull parameters, such as characteristic strength and Weibull modulus, were extracted as 129 MPa and 8.5 for CeO 2 and 150 MPa and 9.3 for 0.1 wt % TDC, respectively. Although Hertzian contact damage was observed on compressive surfaces, failure initiation occurred on the tensile surfaces of both types of samples. Fracture surface analysis for CeO 2 indicated a predominantly intergranular fracture while 0.1 wt % TDC had a predominantly transgranular fracture mode. Finally, the TRS of 0.1 wt % TDC resulted in increased Weibull parameters when compared to CeO 2 , indicating sample chemistry and microstructure impact mechanical behavior for these samples.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Investigation of trimethylacetic acid adsorption on stoichiometric and oxygen-deficient CeO 2 (111) surfaces

We studied the interactions between the carboxylate anchoring group from trimethylacetic acid (TMAA) and CeO 2 (111) surfaces as a function of oxygen stoichiometry using in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The stoichiometric CeO 2 (111) surface was obtained by annealing the thin film under 2.0 × 10 –5 Torr of oxygen at ~550 °C for 30 min. In order to reduce the CeO 2 (111) surface, the thin film was annealed under ~5.0 × 10 –10 Torr vacuum conditions at 550 °C, 650 °C, 750 °C and 850 °C for 30 min to progressively increase the oxygen defect concentration on the surface. The saturated TMAA coverage on the CeO 2 (111) surface determined from XPS elemental composition is found to increase with increasing oxygen defect concentration. This is attributed to the increase of under-coordinated cerium sites on the surface with the increase in the oxygen defect concentrations. Furthermore, XPS results were in agreement with periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations and indicate a stronger binding between the carboxylate group from TMAA and the oxygen deficient CeO 2–δ (111) surface through dissociative adsorption.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Hydrodeoxygenation of p -Cresol over Pt/Al 2 O 3 Catalyst Promoted by ZrO 2 , CeO 2 , and CeO 2 –ZrO 2

ZrO 2 -Al 2 O 3 and CeO 2 -Al 2 O 3 were prepared by a co-precipitation method and selected as supports for Pt catalysts. The effects of CeO 2 and ZrO 2 on the surface area and Brønsted acidity of Pt/Al 2 O 3 were studied. In the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of p-cresol, the addition of ZrO 2 promoted the direct deoxygenation activity on Pt/ZrOO 2 -Al 2 O 3 via Caromatic-O bond scission without benzene ring saturation. Pt/CeOO 2 -Al 2 O 3 exhibited higher deoxygenation extent than Pt/Al 2 O 3 due to the fact that Brønsted acid sites on the catalyst surface favored the adsorption of p-cresol. With the advantages of CeO 2 and ZrO 2 taken into consideration, CeO 2 -ZrOO 2 -Al 2 O 3 was prepared, leading to the highest HDO activity of Pt/CeO 2 -ZrOO 2 -Al 2 O 3 . The deoxygenation extent for Pt/CeO 2 -ZrOO 2 -Al 2 O 3 was 48.4% and 14.5% higher than that for Pt/ZrO2O 2 -Al 2 O 3 and Pt/CeOO 2 -Al 2 O 3 , respectively.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

In Situ Neutron Scattering Studies on the Oxidation and Reduction of CeO 2 and Pt–CeO 2 Nanorods

The oxygen vacancy structure of ceria plays a key role in its performance as a favored material for catalysis applications. Here, in this work, we develop an understanding of the effects of Pt loading on the structural evolution of ceria nanorods under redox gas environments that mimic real automotive catalytic converters. In situ neutron scattering studies under redox flow reveal that both CeO 2 and Pt–CeO 2 nanorods share a bulk fluorite structure with the presence of surface Frenkel-type oxygen defects. However, Pt–CeO 2 nanorods are more easily reducible than CeO 2 rods as evidenced by an increased concentration of Ce 3+ , determined by NAP-XPS. Importantly, this work finds no evidence of oxygen vacancy ordered surface reconstruction which has been reported in earlier ex situ investigations. Thus, this work highlights the discrepancy between ex situ and in situ structural observations and emphasizes the need for robust in situ investigations of catalysts to develop industrially relevant materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

CO 2 -assisted ethane oxidative dehydrogenation over MoO x catalysts supported on reducible CeO 2 –TiO 2

Supported MoO x on mixed CeO 2 –TiO 2 was investigated for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) using CO 2 as a mild oxidant. Raman spectroscopic characterization of the synthesized catalysts under dehydrated conditions suggested that surface MoO x species prefer to anchor on the crystalline domains of TiO 2 . Upon increasing the amount of CeO 2 in the mixed oxide support, significant spectral changes were observed, especially in the ~900–950 cm –1 region where Mo–O–M bonds are expected. The catalytic behaviors of Mo as opposed to pure support materials were distinct. As the ceria content in the support increased, MoO x catalysts promoted oxidative dehydrogenation pathways via the Mars–van Krevelen mechanism, while pure supports appeared to favor ethane direct dehydrogenation. Investigation of structure–function relationships via in situ Raman spectroscopic efforts revealed that adding ceria not only changed the redox properties of the support but also improved those of the deposited amorphous MoO x species. We also show that upon incorporation of ceria into the support, CO 2 directly participates in the reoxidation of the dispersed MoO x species during catalysis. Here, this effect was distinct from the participation of CO 2 in the reverse water gas shift reaction. Operando Raman spectra revealed that the presence of CO 2 prolonged the existence of the 930 cm –1 feature which appears to correlate well with the relative contribution of the oxidative versus non-oxidative pathway in ethane dehydrogenation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

In situ defect annealing of swift heavy ion irradiated CeO 2 and ThO 2 using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and a hydrothermal diamond anvil cell

Hydrothermal diamond anvil cells (HDACs) provide facile means for coupling synchrotron Xray techniques with pressure up to 10 GPa and temperature up to 1300 K. This manuscript reports on an application of the HDAC as an ambient-pressure sample environment for performing in situ defect annealing and thermal expansion studies of swift heavy ion irradiated CeO 2 and ThO 2 using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The advantages of the in situ HDAC technique over conventional annealing methods include: rapid temperature ramping and quench times, high-resolution measurement capability, simultaneous annealing of multiple samples, and prolonged temperature- and apparatus stability at high temperatures. Isochronal annealing between 300 K and 1100 K revealed 2-stage and 1-stage defect recovery processes for irradiated CeO 2 and ThO 2 , respectively; indicating that the morphology of the defects produced by swift heavy ion irradiation of these two materials differs significantly. These results suggest that electronic configuration plays a major role in both the radiation-induced defect production and high temperature defect recovery mechanisms of CeO 2 and ThO 2 .

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Defect interactions with stepped CeO{sub 2}/SrTiO{sub 3} interfaces: Implications for radiation damage evolution and fast ion conduction

Due to reduced dimensions and increased interfacial content, nanocomposite oxides offer improved functionalities in a wide variety of advanced technological applications, including their potential use as radiation tolerant materials. To better understand the role of interface structures in influencing the radiation damage tolerance of oxides, we have conducted atomistic calculations to elucidate the behavior of radiation-induced point defects (vacancies and interstitials) at interface steps in a model CeO{sub 2}/SrTiO{sub 3} system. We find that atomic-scale steps at the interface have substantial influence on the defect behavior, which ultimately dictate the material performance in hostile irradiation environments. Distinctive steps react dissimilarly to cation and anion defects, effectively becoming biased sinks for different types of defects. Steps also attract cation interstitials, leaving behind an excess of immobile vacancies. Further, defects introduce significant structural and chemical distortions primarily at the steps. These two factors are plausible origins for the enhanced amorphization at steps seen in our recent experiments. The present work indicates that comprehensive examination of the interaction of radiation-induced point defects with the atomic-scale topology and defect structure of heterointerfaces is essential to evaluate the radiation tolerance of nanocomposites. Finally, our results have implications for other applications, such as fast ion conduction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗