Structure of Ceria Surfaces

In order to understand the reactivity of ceria surfaces and the interaction of it with metal particles or adsorbates, it is of fundamental interest to know its surface structure and the extent or type of defects present. Even though the film may be an oriented single crystal, there is still the question of whether the surface is terminated in oxygen anions, Ce cations, a mixture or in defects associated with the termination. Charge neutrality, interfacial relaxation and dielectric discontinuities may modify the properties of an oxide surface. Also the ability of the surface to adsorb or give up oxygen, as well as the structure, clustering and reactivity of defects may be expected to depend upon the surface orientation and structure. 

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To date the surface science approach and techniques such as those described above have been used to study structure of ceria surfaces, the adsorption and desorption of several molecular species on ceria and model ceria supported catalysts, and the co-adsorption and reaction of certain of these molecular species. The results provide a basis for clarifying the elementary reaction steps underlying catalytic processes occurring on ceria based catalysts. In this Chapter it is attempted to review and summarize this research. 

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