Fe-doped ceria solids synthesized by the microemulsion method for CO oxidation reactions

A series of Ce-Fe mixed oxides as well as the pure oxides were synthesized by the microemulsions method. The solid solution formation was established for all the Fe-doped systems and only a hardly noticeable segregation of alpha-Fe2O3 was appreciated for the solid with the maximum iron content (50 at.% Fe). The oxygen exchange is improved for all the Fe-doped systems; however the 10 at.% Fe appears as the optimal iron content for achieving the maximum oxygen vacancies concentration and the higher reducibility efficiency. The CO oxidation (TOX. PROX) is especially achieved for the solids with the lower iron contents but with a superior oxygen vacancies proportion. These Ce-Fe systems prepared from microemulsions are very attractive to be considered as supports for depositing active phases capable of enhancing oxygen exchange ability of the whole system, allowing higher CO oxidation abilities. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.