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Crystalline phase development and stability in CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$-SiO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ nanofibers derived from electrospun precursors

POSTER

Abstract

Ceria (CeO$_{\mathrm{2}})$ is a preferred catalytic material in applications found across many industries, including its use in water-gas shift reactions, automotive catalytic converters, and the removal of VOCs. Ceria nanofibers (NF) are attractive in such applications, but there are few reports on CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$-based NF fabrication, phase development, and performance. One major obstacle in the development of CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ NF is their thermal stability and lack of sustainable production. It has been seen that CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ NF frequently disintegrate at increased temperatures. In the present study, a high-yield synthesis of CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ composite nanofibers with SiO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ was attained using alternating force electrospinning. Analyses of CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ NF crystallization process and resulting NF morphologies and structures were performed using TGA, FESEM/EDS, and XRD. CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$-SiO$_{\mathrm{2\thinspace }}$NF with Ce:Si molar ratios from 1:4 to 4:1 were stable up to 1000 $^{\mathrm{o}}$C. They consisted of nanocrystalline CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ and amorphous SiO$_{\mathrm{2}}$, with no compound formation observed. Crystallization of SiO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ and CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$ was noted at 1200\textdegree C, accompanied by the significant shrinkage and loss of fibrous structure. The obtained results demonstrate the improved thermal stability of complex oxide nanocrystalline CeO$_{\mathrm{2}}$-based nanofibrous ceramics.

Authors

  • Rachel Day

    University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Physics, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170,USA

  • Peter Schauss

    University of Notre Dame, Los Alamos National Laboratory, North Carolina State University, University of Notre dame, Columbia University, Mississippi State Univ, University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, JLAB, MIT, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Florida State University, NHMFL, University College Dublin, Department of Physics, Florida State University; National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, CNR-Instituto Nanoscienze, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Nanotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Florida State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Physics, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170,USA, Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Francis Marion University, University of Richmond, Valdosta State University, University of Pittsburgh, Fermi National Lab, university of minnesota, Univ of Virginia, Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland, Georgetown University, IonQ Inc.

  • Courtney Severino

    University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Physics, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170,USA

  • Andrei Stanishevsky

    University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Physics, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170,USA