Measuring the redox activity of individual catalytic nanoparticles in cerium-based oxides.
We have followed the dynamic redox process taking place in individual ceria zirconia nanoparticles with changes in the oxygen chemical potential using an in situ environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM). We observe considerable variability in the redox activity and have been able to correlate these differences with nanoscale structural and compositional measurements. We find that the more active structure has predominantly disordered cations and shows no evidence for oxygen vacancy ordering during reduction.
Wang
Ruigang
R
LeRoy Eyring Center for Solid State Science, School of Materials, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1704, USA. rgwang@lbl.gov
Crozier
Peter A
PA
Sharma
Renu
R
Adams
James B
JB
D002384:Catalysis; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D002563:Cerium; C030583:ceric oxide