Design of Specific Acid-Base-Properties in CeO2-ZrO2-Mixed Oxides via Templating and Au Modification

Ceria-zirconia mixed oxides and gold supported oxides exhibit very good thermal stability and catalytic activity, as well as great selectivity. This work has been focused on the controlled synthesis and characterization of cationic- and amphiphilic-templated ceria, zirconia, and ceria-zirconia mixed oxides from nitrate and iso-propoxide precursors, and ceria-zirconia mixed oxides modified with gold via the deposition precipitation method with urea. The characterization of the acidic and basic properties was carried out through two test reactions. A complete chemical and structural characterization of the materials was done using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller Surface Analysis (N-2-BET), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), NH3- Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD)/CO2-TPD, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Template techniques led to the formation of high surface area mesoporous materials with high activity and thermal stability. In general, the acid sites density was decreased, whereas the basic site density was increased by modification with Au or incorporation of zirconia in case of mixed oxides.