CeFeO-CeO-FeO Systems: Synthesis by Solution Combustion Method and Catalytic Performance in CO Hydrogenation.

Rare-earth orthoferrites have found wide application in thermocatalytic reduction-oxidation processes. Much less attention has been paid, however, to the production of CeFeO, as well as to the study of its physicochemical and catalytic properties, in particular, in the promising process of CO utilization by hydrogenation to CO and hydrocarbons. This study presents the results of a study on the synthesis of CeFeO by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) using various fuels, fuel-to-oxidizer ratios, and additives. The SCS products were characterized by XRD, FTIR, N-physisorption, SEM, DTA-TGA, and H-TPR. It has been established that glycine provides the best yield of CeFeO, while the addition of NHNO promotes an increase in the amount of CeFeO by 7-12 wt%. In addition, the synthesis of CeFeO with the participation of NHNO makes it possible to surpass the activity of the CeO-FeO system at low temperatures (300-400 °C), as well as to increase selectivity to hydrocarbons. The observed effects are due to the increased gas evolution and ejection of reactive FeO nanoparticles on the surface of crystallites, and an increase in the surface defects. CeFeO obtained in this study allows for achieving higher CO conversion compared to LaFeO at 600 °C.