Ceria-Zirconia Catalysts for Automotive Emissions Control

Ceria-zirconia mixed metal oxides occupy a central role in the control of automotive emissions by virtue of their high oxygen storage capacity and exceptional redox stability under the fluctuating conditions of three-way catalytic converters. By forming a solid solution of ceria (CeO₂) and zirconia (ZrO₂) in the fluorite structure, the material can reversibly shift between Ce⁴⁺ and Ce³⁺ oxidation states, storing oxygen during lean operation and releasing it under rich conditions. This oxygen buffering capability stabilises the stoichiometry of exhaust gases, enabling precious metal catalysts to maintain high conversion rates for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Optimisation of the ceria-zirconia ratio, phase composition and microstructure has focused on enhancing thermal stability to prevent sintering at elevated temperatures, maximising the concentration and mobility of oxygen vacancies, and tailoring surface area to increase active site density. Recent efforts have also explored dopant addition, advanced synthesis methods such as mechanochemical grinding and microemulsion, and the development of core–shell architectures to further improve redox kinetics, surface reactivity and resistance to sulphur and water poisoning. As regulatory standards tighten worldwide, these tailored ceria-zirconia formulations continue to underpin innovations in three-way catalysts, diesel particulate filters and lean-burn after-treatment systems, reinforcing their global significance in sustainable transportation technology.

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Ceria-Zirconia Catalysts for Automotive Emissions Control publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ceria-zirconia catalysts for automotive emissions control across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Oxygen storage capacity (OSC): The reversible uptake and release of oxygen by a material under changing redox conditions, critical for balancing exhaust gas composition in automotive catalysts.

Three-way catalyst (TWC): A converter system that simultaneously oxidises carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and reduces nitrogen oxides in vehicle exhaust streams.

Solid solution: A homogeneous crystalline phase in which two or more metal oxides share a common lattice, enhancing redox and thermal properties.

Cation ordering: The arrangement of different metal ions within a crystal lattice that influences oxygen mobility, storage capacity and thermal stability.

Oxygen vacancy: A missing oxygen atom in the lattice structure that generates active sites for redox reactions and improves catalytic performance.

References

1. Insights Into Low‐Temperature Cation Ordering in Fe‐Added Ce–Zr‐Based Oxides. Small (2025).
2. A proxy for oxygen storage capacity from high-throughput screening and automated data analysis. Chemical Science (2023).
3. Ceria–Zirconia Mixed Metal Oxides Prepared via Mechanochemical Grinding of Carbonates for the Total Oxidation of Propane and Naphthalene. Catalysts (2019).
4. Synthesis of CeO2-based core/shell nanoparticles with high oxygen storage capacity. International Nano Letters (2017).