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A platelet-like CeO2 mesocrystal enclosed by {100} facets: synthesis and catalytic properties

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Abstract

Platelet-like CeO2 mesocrystals, constituted of 4–5 nm fused nanoparticles with interparticular voids along a common [002] axis, have successfully been synthesized through a benzyl alcohol-assisted solvothermal synthesis, followed by a topotactical transformation at 400 °C. The resulting CeO2 mesocrystal superstructure is enclosed by Tasker III type {100} facets. H2-TPR suggested that the as-made CeO2 mesocrystal surfaces are covered by reactive oxygen vacancies. Such oxygen vacancies can activate oxygen at low temperatures (<200 °C), and thereby catalyze CO and benzene oxidation effectively. Remarkably, the CO oxidation activity of CeO2 mesocrystal is 220 % as high as the traditional nanoparticle sample and a reaction rate of 0.53 μmol g −1cat  s−1 for CeO2 mesocrystal at 160 °C has been achieved. Such a rate is even higher than the best value reported previously (0.51 μmol g −1cat  s−1 for CeO2 nanorods). A similar superior catalytic property of CeO2 mesocrystals was also observed in the catalytic oxidation of more recalcitrant benzene.

Graphical Abstract

The formation scheme of mesocrystal CeO2 enclosed by Tasker III type {100} facets and the corresponding catalytic CO oxidation activity.

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Acknowledgments

KZ is grateful for the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (21006024), CNPC Innovation Foundation (2011D-5006-0507), Shanghai Pujiang Program (11PJ1402600), and New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-11-0644).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab for Advanced Materials, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, People’s Republic of China

    Wei Deng & Xingyi Wang

  2. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Feng Jiao

  3. UNILAB, State Key Lab of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, People’s Republic of China

    Kake Zhu

Authors
  1. Wei Deng
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  2. Xingyi Wang
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  3. Feng Jiao
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  4. Kake Zhu
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Correspondence to Xingyi Wang or Kake Zhu.

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Deng, W., Wang, X., Jiao, F. et al. A platelet-like CeO2 mesocrystal enclosed by {100} facets: synthesis and catalytic properties. J Nanopart Res 15, 1944 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1944-3

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