Synthesis and characterization of nickel-doped ceria nanoparticles with improved surface reducibility.

Nickel-doped ceria nanoparticles (NiCeO NPs) were fabricated from Schiff-base complexes and characterized by various microscopic and spectroscopic methods. Clear evidence is provided for incorporation of nickel ions in the ceria lattice in the form of Ni species which is considered as the hole trapped state of Ni. The NiCeO NPs exhibit enhanced reducibility in H as compared to conventional ceria-supported Ni particles, while in O the dopant nickel cations are oxidized at higher valence than the supported ones.