Papers by Author: Yoshio Ukyo

Abstract: Ceria-zirconia solid solution is one of the most important components of three way catalyst (TWC) for cleaning automotive exhaust. Ceria-zirconia solid solution has a function as an oxygen storage material, which keeps air to fuel ratio (A/F) at the surface of TWC on a stoichiometric composition. The dissolved zirconia into ceria lattice makes cerium ions to be reduced easier and enhances especially bulk oxygen to release. However, there is a large difference of oxygen storage capacity (OSC) between a theoretical value and that of the prior ceria zirconia solid solutions. The cause of the large difference of OSC might be come from the inhomogeneous dispersion of Zr ions in ceria lattice. Atmospheric pressure solvothermal (APS) process was applied to ceria-zirconia solid solutions in this study. The APS ceria-zirconia showed excellent OSC. The excellent OSC performance was presumed to come from further uniformity of zirconium ions in the ceria lattice.

Abstract: The crystal structures of reduced-reoxidized ceria-zirconia solid solutions, Ce2Zr2O7+x, with an ordered arrangement of Ce and Zr ions were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The oxygen absorption of Ce2Zr2O7 with pyrochlore structure (space group m Fd 3 ) was revealed to proceed through two-step reaction; reaction from Ce2Zr2O7 to b-Ce2Zr2O7.5 around 400K and reaction from b-Ce2Zr2O7.5 to Ce2Zr2O8 about 600K. b-Ce2Zr2O7.5 phase with space group m F 3 4 was thought to be formed by occupation of the half ordered oxygen vacancies with oxygen ions periodically. The oxidation from Ce2Zr2O7 to b-Ce2Zr2O7.5 was also occurred at room temperature by keeping for about 1 year or by irradiation of an electron beam in TEM. On the other hand, the crystal structure of Ce2Zr2O8, completely oxidized state of Ce2Zr2O7, belongs to the space group of m P 3 4 or 23 P from the rule for possible diffractions and the symmetry of the ordering cations.