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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Low-energy Cathodoluminescence for (Oxy)Nitride Phosphors
Published on: November 15, 2016
High Er doping in CeO2via lanthanide contraction boosts oxygen vacancy formation and ammonia decomposition
Ji-Zhou Yang1, Zheng Li1, Jun-Kang Guo1
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Advanced Catalytic Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China. jkguo@hnu.edu.cn.
None:
Efficient and stable catalysts are vital for catalytic ammonia decomposition as a clean hydrogen source. In this study, CeO2 support was modified via high Er doping to exploit the lanthanide contraction effect, enabling a wide range of substitution with Ce-to-Er ratios up to 1 : 0.67 without altering the fluorite structure. Among the prepared catalysts, Ni/CeEr0.44Ox exhibited the highest activity, achieving nearly complete NH3 conversion at 650 °C under a space velocity of 30 000 mL g(cat)-1 h-1, together with excellent long-term stability. Comprehensive characterization revealed that substantial Er incorporation generated abundant oxygen vacancies, strengthened the metal-support interaction, and enhanced the electron density of Ni. These synergistic effects collectively facilitated N-N recombination and desorption, thereby enhancing both activity and durability. This work provides valuable insights into dopant-induced electronic modulation and oxygen vacancy engineering in promoting ammonia decomposition.
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