Improvement in Oxygen Storage Capacity

Cerium oxide (Ceria) is known to have good oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and is used widely in three-way catalysts for automobiles, but it has a problem of heat stability since it is less stable than aluminium oxide (Alumina).

In the present work, cerium-zirconiumyttrium (Ce-Zr-Y) oxide systems were investigated with the aim of improving the heat stability of CeO₂-based oxide systems, which would result in great improvement in OSC.

We found an optimum composition of Ce-Zr-Y oxide with platinum (Pt) dispersed in it at a quantity of 0.1 % in weight, which showed good OSC starting from 100°C upwards even after thermal aging at 1000°C for 2 hours under variable atmospheric conditions of rich-lean fluctuations.