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

• Porous CeO 2 powder with different mean pore size and volume fraction was produced. • The structure, microstructure, and BET surface area of the powders were explored. • The formation mechanism of the porous powder was explained. The aim of this study was synthesis of Mg-doped porous cerium oxide powder by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction of Mg- x CeO 2 -O 2 system. Results indicated that doping Mg in the CeO 2 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 CeO 2 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 CeO 2 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 CeO 2 powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]