Atomic-scale structures of CeO2(111) were examined by non-contact atomic force microscopy. Hexagonally arranged surface O atoms at an ideally O-terminated surface, O point vacancies, and multiple O vacancies such as triangular defects and line defects formed depending upon different oxidation states of CeO2-x were visualized by non-contact atomic force microscopy. These observations give a new insight to understand the special O storage capacity with facile oxidation–reduction cycles for CeO2-x relevant to automotive exhaust catalysis.

Imaging of Surface Oxygen Atoms and their Defect Structures on CeO2(111) by Non-Contact Atomic Force Microscopy. K.Fukui, Y.Namai, Y.Iwasawa: Applied Surface Science, 2002, 188[3-4], 252-6