Mesoporous ceria-zirconia-yttria (CZY) catalyst supports were synthesized via classical sol-gel and evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) methods obtaining mesostructures that exhibited excellent properties but difficulties towards forming an ordered framework. A detailed analysis of the factors and mechanisms that promote the creation of an ordered structure is presented. Classical sol-gel methods are reaction-limited syntheses in which, for the case of CZY materials, the formation of polyoxides occurs rapidly as a result of the availability of water and hydrolyzing agents in the initial solution yielding disordered oxide mesostructures. Alternatively, EISA is a diffusion-limited process where the rate of oxide forming reactions is limited by the slow diffusion of water into the initial ethanolic-metal salts solution. The slow loss of ethanol by evaporation enables the polymer template to self-organize and permits the simultaneous metal oxides condensation-polymerization process to generate a robust oxide network around the periphery of the ordered polymer templates.

Ceria-zirconia-yttria mesostructures synthesized via classical sol-gel and EISA methods: In-depth study of factors affecting the formation of ordered structures

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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