Defect-Site Promoted Surface Reorganization in Nanocrystalline Ceria for the Low-Temperature Activation of Ethylbenzene

Defect-site enriched nanocrystalline ceria prepared by an alcoholysis method favors oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene using nitrous oxide with high conversion and selectivity at much lower temperatures compared to ceria samples prepared by other conventional methods. A direct correlation exists between the concentration of −Ce⁴⁺−O^-−Ce³⁺-type defect sites and the reaction rates and, hence, the activation temperature required for the reaction.