Cerium effect on the phase structure, phase stability and redox properties of Ce-doped strontium ferrates

Nanostructured perovskite-type Sr1−aCeaFeO3−x, (0⩽a<0.15) powders have been prepared by citrate–nitrate smoldering auto-combustion. Their phase structure and stability, surface and morphological properties, reduction behavior and interaction with oxygen have been investigated by X-ray Powder Diffraction combined with Rietveld Analysis, 57Fe Mossbauer and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopies, N2-adsorption method, Temperature Programmed Reduction and Oxidation experiments. Our results reveal that citrate–nitrate auto-combustion method is effective in obtaining single phase Sr1−aCeaFeO3−x. The Sr1−aCeaFeO3−x structure is cubic only for a⩾0.06, while for a<0.06 remains tetragonal. Moreover, for …