Redox properties and catalytic behavior of praseodymium-modified (Ce-Zr)O2 solid solutions in three-way catalysts

The three-way catalyst promoters (Ce-Zr)O2, (Pr-Ce-Zr)O2 and (Pr-Zr)O2 were prepared by the sol-gel method. The reduction/oxidation behavior of these mixed oxides was compared. It is shown that the formation of (Pr-Zr)O2 cubic solid solution at high temperature up to 800 °C makes it more reducible, and that the ternary solid solution that formed in (Pr-Ce-Zr)O2 mixed oxides plays an important role in the reduction process. The catalytic performance tests reveal that the introduction of a small amount of praseodymium into (Ce-Zr)O2 favors the light-off temperature of C3H6 and NO and the effectiveness for NO conversion at the lean region.