CO-induced morphology changes in Zn-modified ceria: A FTIR spectroscopic study

Abstract

A FTIR study of the CO adsorption on a Zn-modified ceria is presented. The results indicate that at lower activation temperatures only Ce 4+ carbonyls were detected, which were reduced with the increase of the activation temperature. At higher activation temperatures, up to three Zn 2+ carbonyls were also identified according to the arrangement of the Zn 2+ cations. The consecutive CO adsorptions demonstrated an irreversible modification of the surface, resulting in an agglomeration of the zinc cations. A stepwise conversion of the isolated Zn 2+ carbonyls into carbonyls of the closely situated zinc cations followed by formation of bigger zinc oxide clusters was observed. The carbon monoxide coordinated on the isolated Zn 2+ cations at the interface with ceria reacts with the lattice oxygen leading to formation of oxygen vacancies. An insight into the origin of the activation during the CO oxidation process is proposed. © 2012 American Chemical Society.