Kinetics of thermal decomposition of CeO nanocrystalline precursor prepared by precipitation method

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of CeO₂ nanocrystalline precursor prepared by chemical precipitation method was investigated using thermo-gravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). In particular, the differential thermal analysis curves for the decomposition of CeO₂ nanocrystalline precursor were measured at different heating rates in air by a thermal analyzer (NETZSCH STA 449C, Germany). The kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition of CeO₂ nanocrystalline precursor were calculated using the Kissinger method and the Coats-Redfern method. Results show that the apparent active energy E of the reaction is 105.51 kJ/mol, the frequency factor lnA is 3.602 and the reaction order n is 2. This thermal decomposition process can be described by the anti-Jander equation and a three-dimensional diffusion mechanism.

Keywords

CeO₂ nanocrystals / thermal decomposition kinetics / thermo-gravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC)