Oxygen Storage Capacity of CexZr1-xO2 (0.4≤x≤0.8) Solid Solution Using Thermogravimetric Analysis

The property of high oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of Ceria is an important component in three-way catalysts (TWC), which depends on the low reduction temperature, high surface area and stable crystalline structure. These are required to be improved using mixed oxides for the increased OSC of TWC. Though a good number of literature is available in Ceria-Zirconia mixed oxides, optimization of the composition of oxides based on OSC is very much limited. Hence, an attempt was made to optimize the composition of CexZr1-xO2 (0.4 <= x <= 0.8) (CZ) based on the OSC using thermogravimetric technique. The CZ solid solution was prepared by co-precipitation (COP) method using Ceria nitrate, and Zirconia oxy-choloride precursors, where the freshly prepared metal hydroxide precipitates were continuously stirred at 45 degrees C for 60 minutes followed by washing and drying to obtain the nanosized CZ particles. The formation of single nano crystallite with less than 8 nm size solid solution was identified by XRD, and the same was confirmed by Micro Raman studies. It is observed that the trend of OSC in CZ solid solution was based on the ratio of Ce to Zr in the starting aqueous solution, where the OSC was found to be maximum at 1.5 and the corresponding OSC of the compound was about 0.14 mu mol per gram of Ceria.