Title: Model systems with the use of CeO2 for bioapplication Author: Sofiia Bercha Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: Ing. Nataliya Tsud Ph.D., Department of Surface and Plasma Science Abstract: This thesis is focused on the investigation of model systems for bioapplications. Interfaces between biomolecules and inorganic materials were studied by means of advanced surface science techniques with emphasis on the molecular electronic structure and bonding geometry as a function of material morphology and/or molecular deposition method. For the histidine/cerium oxide system it is demonstrated that the morphology of the oxide determines the mechanism of the molecular adsorption. The presence of an aqueous medium does not alter the histidine interaction with the nanostructured cerium oxide. For the adenine/cerium oxide system we have shown that the adenine molecule chemisorbs on CeO2 intact via nitrogen atoms, independent of the oxide morphology and deposition technique. The adenine molecule was found to decompose on a reduced surface of the cerium oxide. Combining experimental and theoretical methods two distinct phases of adenine on CeO2 were found. For adenine/Cu(111) system it was shown that the strong interaction with the surface keeps the molecule intact on the surface till...

Title: Study of cerium oxide thin films for biosensing applications Author: Yuliia Kosto Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Matolín, DrSc. Abstract: The presented scientific work was conducted in two main directions. The first one is an investigation of the simple biomolecules (glycine and sarcosine) bonding to cerium oxide model films by surface science techniques: photoelectron and near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Adsorption chemistry and thermal stability of the molecules on the oxides were studied in relation to the oxidation state of ceria cations, film morphology, and molecular deposition method. The oxygen vacancies in the oxide were shown to affect the adsorption geometry of glycine and stimulate molecular decomposition. The polycrystalline oxide morphology provided stabilizing effect on the glycine adlayer. Sarcosine deposited in vacuum formed densely packed adlayer with the molecules directed outwards. Interestingly, the results revealed that molecular film deposited from the aqueous solution, in contrast to deposition in vacuum, induces continuous reduction of the cerium oxide during thermal annealing. The second part is a study of polycrystalline cerium oxide thin films as an electrode for electrochemical and electrochemiluminescent...

The diploma thesis concerns the study of catalytic layers Pt-CeOx used in Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. Employing a Transmission Electron Microscope and Near-Ambient Pressure Photoelectron Spectroscopy, morphology, particle size distribution, chemical composition, and effects of fuel cell conditions were studied. This work contributes to the clarification of the dynamic character of the prepared catalytic layers in reactive conditions, which is essential for understanding their catalytic activity and durability.

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L'hydrogène est envisagé comme vecteur énergétique pour le futur. En effet, son utilisation par oxydation dans les piles à combustible ne produit que de la vapeur d'eau et permet la production d'électricité et de chaleur. L'oxydation partielle des hydrocarbures, réaction exothermique, peut être une alternative ou un complément au vaporeformage (endothermique) pour la génération d'hydrogène. L'intérêt du propane, par rapport au méthane, est qu'il se liquéfie à une pression relativement faible. L'objectif de ce travail est l'étude cinétique de l'oxydation partielle catalytique du propane. C'est une réaction complexe : son mécanisme comporte des réactions catalytiques de surface couplées à des réactions en phase gazeuse par l'intermédiaire de radicaux. La réaction a été étudiée dans un réacteur auto-agité catalytique. Dans un premier temps une étude expérimentale a été réalisée sans catalyseur. Un mécanisme homogène a pu ainsi être validé. Ensuite, cette même réaction a été étudiée en présence de pastilles d'oxyde de cérium. Un mécanisme hétérogène a été écrit en utilisant le formalisme d'Eley-Rideal et celui de Langmuir-Hinshelwood. Les données cinétiques ont été estimées selon une méthode originale basée sur la théorie de Benson. En comparant les résultats expérimentaux et ceux issus de la simulation (effectués avec Chemkin®/Chemkin Surface®), un mécanisme hétéro-homogène a été validé sur un large domaine de conditions opératoires / Hydrogen is proposed as an energy vector for the future. Indeed, its energetic use by oxidation in fuel cells produces water vapor only. The partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, an exothermic reaction, can be an alternative or a complement to the steam cracking (endothermic) for hydrogen generation. Propane can be an interesting hydrocarbon for hydrogen production since it can be easily stored in liquid phase and distributed. The aim of this work is the kinetic study of the catalytic partial oxidation of propane. The reaction is complex: catalytic reactions are coupled to reactions in gas phase by the intermediary of radicals. The reaction was studied in a catalytic jet stirred reactor. At first, an experimental study was carried out without a catalyst. A homogeneous mechanism could be validated. Afterwards, this same reaction has been studied in presence of cerium oxide pellets. A heterogeneous mechanism was written using the formalism of Eley-Rideal and that of Langmuir-Hinshelwood. The kinetics parameters are estimated by methods derivated from Benson's techniques. Comparing experimental results and those from the simulation (carried out by Chemkin®/Chemkin Surface®), a hetero-homogeneous mechanism was validated in our experimental conditions

The photocatalytic water splitting reaction showed to be a promising process to obtain renewable and clean energy, but the efficiency reached in this process is still low and must be improved to be viable. Considering this, the research on improving the efficiency of photocatalysts has attracted a strong interest in the past last years. Cerium oxide (CeO2−, 0 < x < 0.5) is a material recently investigated as a possible photocatalyst to obtain H2 from H2O. In this work, cerium oxide nanoparticles with high surface area (104 < S < 201 m2/g), high pore volume (32 < V < 132 mm3/g) values, wide range of diameter (2 < d < 90 nm) and O vacancies population (0.05 < x < 0.46) were applied to the H2 production photocatalytic reaction. The nanoparticles presented activity of up to 10 times higher than the commercial cerium oxide standard. UV-Vis, X-ray Diffraction, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared measurements were performed aiming to elucidate these results and to determine the main structural and electronic properties that can improve the H2 production photocatalytic reaction. It was obtained that the band gap energy depends on the nanoparticle synthesized and can be as low as 2.73 eV. The Ce 4f orbital occupation and the structural disorder presented by the nanoparticles is directly related with the band gap energies obtained. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to obtain the relation between the band structure (DOS) and the O vacancy population in order to explain the dependence of the band gap energy with the Ce 4f orbital occupation. Moreover, the O vacancies population at the surface have a very different effect depending on the presence or absence of mesopores, where a lower O vacancy population at the surface is better (worse) to the photocatalytic activity in the presence (absence) of mesopores. Furthermore O vacancies population at the surface plays a more fundamental role on the photocatalytic activity than the band gap energies for the samples presenting mesopores. The results allowed shedding light on the improvement of the properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles applied to optimize the H2 production photocatalytic activity.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-24T19:38:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Renata Olegario.pdf: 5279781 bytes, checksum: 47c1e5b7166f5caec9a3a371cfe659e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-02 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This study focused on the Cerium oxide (CeO2) based pigmenting systems, doped with Praseodymium oxide (Pr6O11) and hematite (Fe2O3 – iron oxide) synthesized through the solid state reaction (OM – oxide mixture) and the Pechini method. Simultaneously, CeO2-Pr6O11-Fe2O3 ternary system pigments were synthesized through OM, with the addition of mineralizers. The samples synthesized through OM were wet homogeneized, in isopropyl alcohol, in a horizontal ball mill for 18 hours and dried in oven at 110 C, then thermally treated at 1300 ºC for 3 hours. In samples synthesized through the Pechini method, the process started from the synthesis of the polymeric resin, formed by the citric acid reaction, glycol ethyl, water and the desired oxide salts, kept in thermal blanket at 150 C, under constant agitation for 2 hours, following two thermal treatments at 300 C for 2 hours, and then one at 900 C for 3 hours. After the thermal treatment the pigmenting systems were characterized through XRD, UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and thermal analysis, determining the phases present, the colorimetric parameters, band gap values, micro-structural agglomerations and thermal and chemical stability to glass enamel. Single phase pigments were obtained in the binary system CeO2-Pr6O11, with addition of up to 10% Pr6O11 synthesized through OM and up to 3% Pr6O11 synthesized through the Pechini method, whereas the binary system CeO2-Fe2O3, presented single phase only in OM synthesis, with concentrations up to 2% of Fe2O3. More intense shades were obtained in pigments with addition of up to 5% mol praseodymium oxide in the CeO2-Pr6O11 system, and with up to 3% mol iron oxide in the CeO2-Fe2O3 system. The ternary system CeO2-Pr6O11-Fe2O3 presented secondary phase PrFeo3, remaining this phase even with the addition of mineralizers. The pigments applied to low temperature frits (LTF) and windscreen glass (WSG) showed chemically and thermally resistant at 800 C, free of surface defects on the ceramic plates, presenting better dispersion and color homogeneity. / A presente pesquisa estudou os sistemas pigmentantes à base de óxido de cério (CeO2) dopados com óxido de praseodímio (Pr6O11) e hematita (Fe2O3 - óxido de ferro), sintetizados pelo método de reação de estado sólido (mistura de óxidos - MO) e pelo método Pechini. Paralelamente foram sintetizados pelo método MO, pigmentos do sistema ternário CeO2-Pr6O11-Fe2O3 com adição de mineralizadores. As amostras sintetizadas por MO foram homogeneizadas a úmido, em álcool isopropílico, em um moinho de bolas horizontal por 18 horas e secas em estufa a 110 C, e tratadas termicamente a 1300 C por 3 horas. Nas amostras sintetizadas pelo método Pechini partiu-se da síntese da resina polimérica, formada pela reação de ácido cítrico, etileno glicol, água e os sais contendo os íons metálicos dos óxidos pretendidos, mantida em manta térmica a 150 C, sob agitação constante, por 2 horas, sendo tratadas termicamente duas vezes a 300 C por 2 horas, e, na sequência, a 900 C por 3 horas. Após tratamento térmico os sistemas pigmentantes foram caracterizados por difração de raios X, espectroscopia de reflectância na região do UV-Vis, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, espectroscopia Raman e análise térmica, sendo determinadas as fases presentes, os parâmetros colorimétricos, valores de band gap, aglomerações micro estruturais e a estabilidade térmica e química frente à esmaltação vítrea. Pigmentos de fase única foram obtidos no sistema binário CeO2-Pr6O11, com adição de até 10% de Pr6O11 sintetizado por MO e com até 3% de Pr6O11 sintetizado por Pechini; já no sistema binário CeO2-Fe2O3, fase única somente em sínteses por MO, com concentrações até 2% de Fe2O3. Tonalidades mais intensas foram obtidas nos pigmentos com adição de até 5% mol de óxido de praseodímio no sistema CeO2-Pr6O11, e com adição de até 3% mol de óxido de ferro no sistema CeO2-Fe2O3. O sistema ternário CeO2-Pr6O11-Fe2O3 apresentou fase secundária PrFeO3, persistindo esta fase mesmo com adição de mineralizadores. Os pigmentos aplicados em frita de baixa temperatura (FBT) e vidro de pára-brisa (VPB) se mostraram resistentes química e termicamente a 800 ºC, sem presença de defeitos superficiais nas placas cerâmicas, apresentando melhor dispersão e homogeneidade da cor.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:41:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaCPC.pdf: 1447913 bytes, checksum: 8f65c2f6df911f6db297163eb551fb69 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-29 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / The metalic oxides have been studies due to differents applications as materials semiconductor in solar cells, catalysts, full cells and, resistors. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has a high electric conductivity due to oxygen vacancies. The Ce(SO4)2.2H2O doped samples TiO2 and TiO2 pure was obtained sol-gel process, and characterized by X-ray diffractometry,thermal analysis, and impedance spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction patterns for TiO2 pure samples shows at 700?C anatase phase is absent, and only the diffraction peaks of rutile phase are observed. However, the cerium doped samples only at 900?C rutile in the phase present with peaks of cerium dioxide (CeO2). The thermal analysis of the TiO2 pure and small concentration cerium doped samples show two steps weight loss corresponding to water of hydration and chemisorbed. To larger concentration cerium doped samples were observed two steps weight loss in the transformation of the doped cerium possible intermediate species and SO3. Finally, two steps weight loss the end products CeO2 and SO3 are formed. Analyse electric properties at different temperatures and concentration cerium doped samples have been investigated by impedance spectroscopy. It was observed that titanium, can be substituted by cerium, changing its electric properties, and increased thermal stability of TiO2 anatase structure / Os ?xidos met?licos t?m sido muito estudados devido suas diversas aplica??es como materiais semicondutores em c?lulas solares, catalisadores, c?lulas combust?veis e resistores. O Di?xido de Tit?nio possui uma alta condutividade el?trica devido ?s suas vac?ncias de oxig?nio. Amostras de TiO2 puro, obtidas pelo m?todo sol-gel e dopadas com solu??es de Ce(SO4)2.2H2O, foram analisadas atrav?s de difratometria de raios-X, an?lise t?rmica e espectroscopia de imped?ncia. Atrav?s dos difratogramas de raios-X observou-se a transi??o completa das fases anat?sio-rutilo, para a amostra do TiO2 puro a partir de 700?C. Entretanto, para as amostras dopadas, essa transi??o s? ? completa a partir de 900?C, aparecendo picos correspondentes ao ?xido de c?rio. Atrav?s da an?lise t?rmica se observou uma perda de massa, para o TiO2 puro e dopado com a menor concentra??o de c?rio, correspondente ? desidrata??o e a ?gua quimissorvida. Para as amostras dopadas em uma maior concentra??o, foram observados dois est?gios de perda de massa, devido a decomposi??o do dopante em intermedi?rios e SO3. Essas amostras apresentaram mais duas perdas de massa devido a forma??o do CeO2 e SO3. A partir da espectroscopia de imped?ncia analisou-se as propriedades el?tricas das amostras em fun??o da temperatura de calcina??o e em fun??o da concentra??o do dopante. Tamb?m foi observado que o c?rio, por ter a capacidade de substituir o tit?nio na sua estrutura cristalina, modifica suas propriedades el?tricas e tem o poder de estabiliz?-lo termicamente em certas temperaturas

Σκοπός της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής ήταν η ανάπτυξη ενός αποτελεσματικού καταλυτικού συστήματος με βάση το χαλκό, για την αναμόρφωση της μεθανόλης. Για το σκοπό αυτό εξετάστηκαν οι καταλυτικές ιδιότητες τριών συστημάτων βασιζόμενων σε καταλύτες χαλκού και παρασκευασμένων με τη μη συμβατική μέθοδο της καύσης: CuO-CeO2, τροποποιημένων καταλυτών CuO-CeO2 και Cu-Mn-O για την προαναφερθείσα διεργασία, καθώς και τα βέλτιστα δείγματα των καταλυτών CuO-CeO2 και Cu-Mn-O υποστηριγμένων σε μεταλλικούς αφρούς Al. Τα φυσικοχημικά χαρακτηριστικά των καταλυτών CuO-CeO2, βρέθηκαν να εξαρτώνται από τις παραμέτρους σύνθεσης. Ο βέλτιστος καταλύτης παρασκευάστηκε με λόγο Cu/(Cu+Ce)= 0.15. Στους τροποποιημένους καταλύτες CuO-CeO2, ένα μέρος του τροποποιητή εισχωρεί στο πλέγμα της δημήτριας, οδηγώντας στο σχηματισμό στερεού διαλύματος. Αυτό είχε ως αποτέλεσμα να επηρεαστούν τα φυσικοχημικά χαρακτηριστικά των δειγμάτων, αλλά και η καταλυτική συμπεριφορά τους. Οι σπινελικοί καταλύτες Cu-Mn-O είναι πολύ ενεργοί παρά τη μικρή ειδική επιφάνειά τους. Η ενεργότητά τους είναι συγκρίσιμη με αυτή των εμπορικών καταλυτών Cu-Zn-Al. Ο βέλτιστος καταλύτης ήταν αυτός με λόγο Cu/(Cu+Mn)= 0.30. Εξίσου αποδοτικοί για την παραγωγή υδρογόνου μέσω αναμόρφωσης της μεθανόλης, μονολιθικοί καταλύτες Cu-Ce/Al foam και Cu-Mn/Al foam παρασκευάστηκαν με τη μέθοδο της καύσης. Με βάση τα ευρήματα της ισοτοπικής μελέτης, προτείνεται για τον καταλύτη Cu-Mn-O ότι η αναμόρφωση πραγματοποιείται αποκλειστικά μέσω μηχανισμού που περιλαμβάνει τον ενδιάμεσο σχηματισμό μυρμηκικού μεθυλεστέρα. Για τους καταλύτες Cu-Ce-O και Cu-Zn-Al πραγματοποιείται ταυτόχρονα και μηχανισμός που περιλαμβάνει ως ενδιάμεσο είδος το διοξομεθυλένιο. / The scope of the present thesis was the development of an effective catalytic copper-based system for methanol reforming. The catalytic properties of three different copper-based systems prepared via the non conventional combustion method, were investigated for the aforementioned process: CuO-CeO2, modified CuO-CeO2 and Cu-Mn-O, as well as the optimal CuO-CeO2 and Cu-Mn-O oxide cata¬lysts supported on Al metal foam. The physicochemical characteristics of CuO-CeO2 catalysts were found to be influenced by the parameters of the synthesis. The optimal catalyst was prepared with Cu/(Cu+Ce) ratio equal to 0.15. In the case of modified CuO-CeO2 catalysts, at least part of dopant cations gets incorporated into the CeO2 lattice leading to solid solution formation. As a result, the physicochemical characteris¬tics of the samples were influenced, as well as their catalytic performance. Cu-Mn spinel oxide catalysts were found to be highly active despite their low surface area. Their activity is comparable to that of commercial Cu-Zn-Al catalysts. The optimal catalyst was prepared with a Cu/(Cu+Mn) ratio equal to 0.30. Structured Cu-Ce/Al foam and Cu-Mn/Al foam catalysts prepared via in situ combustion method were equally effective for hydrogen production via methanol reforming. Based on the findings of an isotopic study, a mechanism has been proposed for the reforming reaction over Cu-Mn-O, where methyl formate is formed as a reaction intermediate. An additional reaction mechanism is taking place over Cu-Ce-O and commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts, resulting in the intermediate dioxomethylene.