Synthesis of porous Mg-doped CeO2 powders via self-propagating high-temperature synthesis route

Abstract The aim of this study was synthesis of Mg-doped porous cerium oxide powder by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction of Mg-xCeO2-O2 system. Results indicated that doping Mg in the CeO2 crystal structure increased its lattice parameter slightly, and shifted the Ce-O band in the FTIR spectra from 490 to 574 cm−1. Moreover, the EDS results revealed the distribution of Mg in the CeO2 microstructure. There were a high volume fraction of interconnected macro-pores in the microstructure of cerium oxide after the synthesis process. Increase in the x-value from 0.05 to 0.25 mol decreased the mean size and volume fraction of pores from 2.4 to 1 µm and 50 to 30 vol%, respectively. In addition, the BET surface area of porous CeO2 varied between 0.3 and 1.57 m2/g. Finally, it was inferred that the SHS technique can be introduced as a rapid and novel method for synthesis of Mg-doped porous CeO2 powders.