Cerium(III) oxide
Cerium(III) oxide, also known as cerium oxide, cerium trioxide, cerium sesquioxide, cerous oxide or dicerium trioxide, is an oxide of the rare-earth metal cerium. It has chemical formula Ce2O3 and is gold-yellow in color.
Names | |
---|---|
IUPAC name
Cerium(III) oxide | |
Other names
Cerium sesquioxide | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
|
ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.014.289 |
EC Number |
|
PubChem CID |
|
UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
|
| |
| |
Properties | |
Ce2O3 | |
Molar mass | 328.229 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | yellow-green dust |
Density | 6.2 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 2,177 °C (3,951 °F; 2,450 K) |
Boiling point | 3,730 °C (6,750 °F; 4,000 K) |
insoluble | |
Solubility in sulfuric acid | soluble |
Solubility in hydrochloric acid | insoluble |
Structure | |
Hexagonal, hP5 | |
P3m1, No. 164 | |
Hazards | |
GHS labelling: | |
Related compounds | |
Other anions |
Cerium(III) chloride |
Other cations |
Lanthanum(III) oxide, Praseodymium(III) oxide |
Related compounds |
Cerium(IV) oxide |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references |
Applications
Engine and exhaust catalysts
Cerium oxide is used as a catalytic converter for the minimisation of CO emissions in the exhaust gases from motor vehicles.
When there is a shortage of oxygen, cerium(IV) oxide is reduced by carbon monoxide to cerium(III) oxide:
- 2 CeO2 + CO → Ce2O3 + CO2
When there is an oxygen surplus, the process is reversed and cerium(III) oxide is oxidized to cerium(IV) oxide:
- 2 Ce2O3 + O2 → 4 CeO2
Major automotive applications for cerium(III) oxide are as a catalytic converter for the oxidation of CO and NOx emissions in the exhaust gases from motor vehicles,[1][2] and secondly, cerium oxide finds use as a fuel additive to diesel fuels, which results in increased fuel efficiency and decreased hydrocarbon derived particulate matter emissions,[3] however the health effects of the cerium oxide bearing engine exhaust is a point of study and dispute.[4][5][6]
Water splitting
The cerium(IV) oxide–cerium(III) oxide cycle or CeO2/Ce2O3 cycle is a two step thermochemical water splitting process based on cerium(IV) oxide and cerium(III) oxide for hydrogen production.[7]
Photoluminescence
Cerium(III) oxide combined with tin(II) oxide (SnO) in ceramic form is used for illumination with UV light. It absorbs light with a wavelength of 320 nm and emits light with a wavelength of 412 nm.[8] This combination of cerium(III) oxide and tin(II) oxide is rare, and obtained only with difficulty on a laboratory scale.
Production
Cerium(III) oxide is produced by the reduction of cerium(IV) oxide with hydrogen at approximately 1,400 °C (2,550 °F). Samples produced in this way are only slowly air-oxidized back to the dioxide at room temperature.[9]
References
- Bleiwas, D.I. (2013). Potential for Recovery of Cerium Contained in Automotive Catalytic Converters. Reston, Va.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
- "Argonne's deNOx Catalyst Begins Extensive Diesel Engine Exhaust Testing". Archived from the original on 2015-09-07. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
- "Exploring Nano-sized Fuel Additives EPA scientists examine nanoparticle impacts on vehicle emissions and air pollution".
- "Nanoparticles used as additives in diesel fuels can travel from lungs to liver, November 18, 2011. Marshall University Research Corporation".
- Park, B.; Donaldson, K.; Duffin, R.; Tran, L.; Kelly, F.; Mudway, I.; Morin, J. P.; Guest, R.; Jenkinson, P.; Samaras, Z.; Giannouli, M.; Kouridis, H.; Martin, P. (Apr 2008). "Hazard and risk assessment of a nanoparticulate cerium oxide-based diesel fuel additive - a case study". Inhal Toxicol. 20 (6): 547–66. doi:10.1080/08958370801915309. PMID 18444008.
- "Exploring Nano-sized Fuel Additives EPA scientists examine nanoparticle impacts on vehicle emissions and air pollution".
- Hydrogen production from solar thermochemical water splitting cycles Archived August 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- Peplinski, D.R.; Wozniak, W. T.; Moser, J. B. (1980). "Spectral Studies of New Luminophors for Dental Porcelain". Journal of Dental Research. 59 (9): 1501–1509. doi:10.1177/00220345800590090801. PMID 6931128.
- Y. Wetzel (1963). "Scandium, Yttrium, Rare Earths". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 1. NY, NY: Academic Press. p. 1151.