Introduction and Application of Cerium Oxide
I. Product Overview
Cerium oxide (CeO₂), also known as cerium dioxide, is an oxide of the rare earth element cerium, with a pale yellow to white powder appearance. As an important representative of rare earth compounds, cerium oxide is widely used in glass polishing, automobile exhaust purification, electronic ceramics, new energy and other fields due to its unique chemical properties and catalytic properties. Its melting point is about 2400℃, it has good chemical stability, is insoluble in water, and can remain stable under high temperature and strong oxidizing environment.
In industrial production, cerium oxide is usually extracted from cerium-containing minerals (such as fluorocarbon cerium ore and monazite) and is obtained through acid leaching, extraction, precipitation, calcination and other processes. According to the purity and particle size, it can be divided into polishing grade, catalytic grade, electronic grade and nano-grade products, among which high-purity nano cerium oxide is the core material for high-end applications.
II. Product Features
Excellent polishing performance: Cerium oxide has chemical mechanical polishing ability, which can quickly remove glass surface defects and improve surface finish.
Strong redox ability: The reversible transformation between Ce⁴⁺ and Ce³⁺ gives it a unique oxygen storage and release function, especially suitable for catalytic reactions.
Strong chemical stability: It is not easy to react with most acids and bases, and can maintain performance under harsh conditions.
High temperature resistance: The high melting point and thermal stability make it suitable for high temperature processes and electronic ceramics.
Controllable particle size: The product particle size can be adjusted from micron to nanometer to meet different industrial needs.
III. Main application areas
1. Glass and optical polishing
Cerium oxide polishing powder is the main material for modern glass processing. Its chemical mechanical action can effectively remove tiny scratches and form a mirror effect. Mainly used for:
Polishing of mobile phones and computer touch screens;
Precision grinding of high-end optical lenses and camera lenses;
Surface treatment of LCD screens and TV glass;
Precision crystal and optical glass product processing.
Compared with traditional iron oxide polishing materials, cerium oxide has a fast polishing speed, higher surface brightness, and a long service life.
2. Automobile exhaust catalyst
Cerium oxide is a key component in automobile three-way catalysts. It can effectively store and release oxygen, realize the catalytic conversion of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and hydrocarbons (HC), thereby reducing automobile exhaust pollutant emissions and meeting increasingly stringent environmental standards.
3. New energy and fuel cells
Nano cerium oxide can significantly improve the conductivity and durability of batteries as electrolytes or interlayer materials in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). At the same time, cerium oxide also shows excellent performance in the fields of hydrogen catalytic decomposition and lithium-ion battery additives.
4. Electronic ceramics and glass additivesAs an important raw material for electronic ceramics, cerium oxide can be used to manufacture capacitors, thermistors, optical filter materials, etc. When added to glass, it can play a role in decolorization, transparency enhancement, and UV protection, and improve the durability and optical properties of glass.
5. Cosmetics and protective materialsNano cerium oxide particles can absorb ultraviolet rays and are often used in sunscreens and skin care products. They have the advantages of inorganic stability and are not easily absorbed by the skin. At the same time, it is added to industrial coatings to enhance corrosion resistance and anti-aging capabilities.
6. Environmental governance and chemical catalysisCerium oxide has important applications in industrial waste gas purification, sewage catalytic oxidation and other fields. Its high catalytic activity makes it widely used in processes such as petroleum cracking and chemical synthesis.
IV. Development trendWith the rapid development of new energy, optics, environmental protection and other industries, the demand for cerium oxide continues to grow. The main development directions in the future include:
Nano- and high-performance: improve the specific surface area and reaction activity of cerium oxide through nanotechnology.
Green and environmentally friendly polishing materials: develop low-pollution, high-recovery polishing powder to improve resource utilization.
New energy field expansion: There is a broader market prospect in hydrogen energy, fuel cells, and energy storage materials.
Resource recycling: Strengthen the rare earth recovery of waste polishing powder and exhaust catalyst to reduce resource waste.
V. Conclusion
Due to its excellent polishing performance, catalytic activity and stability, cerium oxide has become an important material for glass processing, automobile exhaust treatment, electronic ceramics and new energy industries. With the advancement of technology and the growth of demand for green industries, the application scope of cerium oxide will be further broadened, and its market value and development potential will be unlimited.
English
Русский
日本語
한국어
Español
Tiếng Việt
Deutsch
Français
Italiano
Português
