Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.49, No.22, 10415-10421, 2010
Crucial Role of the Reaction Conditions in Isolating Several Metastable Phases in a Gd-Ce-Zr-O System
A series of samples with composition Gd2-yCeyZr2O7 (0.0 <= y <= 2.0) were prepared by the gel combustion method followed by high-temperature reduction. The details of the structural variations as a function of the composition, temperature, and oxygen stoichiometry have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-temperature XRD (HT-XRD), and thermogravimetry. A complete solubility of Gd3+ in Ce2Zr2O7 and Ce2Zr2O8 could be achieved by this adaptive preparative method. Analysis of the XRD data revealed a sequential variation of the structural features with oxygen stoichiometry as well as Gd3+ contents in these compositions. The variation in the unit cell parameter along the compositions has a strong influence on the oxygen uptake behavior in the Gd2-yCeyZr2O7 system, as observed from the thermogravimetric and HT-XRD studies. The preparation and stability of various metastable phases in Gd-Ce-Zr-O have been addressed in detail. The details of the study will be useful for the design and application of a potential redox catalyst and an oxygen storage capacitor.