CeO2x
CeO2x refers to cerium oxide in a non-stoichiometric form, meaning the ratio of cerium to oxygen is not exactly 2:1. This non-stoichiometry arises from the ability of cerium to exist in multiple oxidation states, primarily Ce3+ and Ce4+. In the ideal CeO2 structure, all cerium ions are in the +4 oxidation state. However, under certain conditions, some Ce4+ ions can be reduced to Ce3+, creating oxygen vacancies in the crystal lattice. This presence of oxygen vacancies and the coexistence of different cerium oxidation states are responsible for the unique properties of CeO2x.
These oxygen vacancies are mobile and can be easily filled or emptied by oxygen ions, making cerium
Beyond catalysis, CeO2x exhibits other interesting properties such as its strong UV absorption, which makes it