Synthesis and Characterization of Doped Cerium Nanocatalysts Samples Through Nitrate Solutions Thermal Decomposition

Ceria based catalysts doped with calcium, zinc, magnesium were synthesized to the future application in the fast pyrolysis biomass in order to improve the kinetics towards volatile hidrocarbons production. Through thermal treatment of nitrate aqueous solutions followed by calcination of the produced solid powder at 600oC, solid solutions of CeO2 doped with Ca, Zn and Mg have been successfully synthesized. The final solid samples have been characterized through X ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), in order to evaluate both the elemental composition, as well as the nature and amount of each crystalline phase (Rietveld analysis). The results show that in all cases the desired solid solutions have been obtained, with a mean crystallite size lying in the range between 9.5nm to 34.9nm, suggesting the presence of nanostructured particles.