Preparation of nanometric CeO2–ZrO2–Nd2O3 solid solution and its catalytic performances

A kind of nanometric CeO2–ZrO2–Nd2O3 (CZN) solid solution for a carrier in the automotive three-way catalysts was synthesized by a coprecipitation method and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption–desorption (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and oxygen storage capacity (OSC). For the purpose of comparison, an unincorporated CeO2–ZrO2 (CZ) was also synthesized. The XRD measurements disclose the prepared CeO2–ZrO2–Nd2O3 have a face-centered cubic fluorite structure and nanoparticle sizes. According to the results of XPS, Nd3+ ions can enter the CZ lattice and form a homogenous solid solution. Oxygen storage capacity measurements reveal that CeO2–ZrO2–Nd2O3 display high oxygen mobility at a low temperature. The results of the activity tests show that the catalyst exhibits good three-way catalytic activity and fairly wide range of air-to-fuel ratios.