CeFeO₃–CeO₂–Fe₂O₃ Systems: Synthesis by Solution Combustion Method and Catalytic Performance in CO₂ Hydrogenation

Rare-earth orthoferrites have found wide application in thermocatalytic reduction-oxidation processes. Much less attention has been paid, however, to the production of CeFeO₃, as well as to the study of its physicochemical and catalytic properties, in particular, in the promising process of CO₂ utilization by hydrogenation to CO and hydrocarbons. This study presents the results of a study on the synthesis of CeFeO₃ by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) using various fuels, fuel-to-oxidizer ratios, and additives. The SCS products were characterized by XRD, FTIR, N₂-physisorption, SEM, DTA–TGA, and H₂-TPR. It has been established that glycine provides the best yield of CeFeO₃, while the addition of NH₄NO₃ promotes an increase in the amount of CeFeO₃ by 7–12 wt%. In addition, the synthesis of CeFeO₃ with the participation of NH₄NO₃ makes it possible to surpass the activity of the CeO₂–Fe₂O₃ system at low temperatures (300–400 °C), as well as to increase selectivity to hydrocarbons. The observed effects are due to the increased gas evolution and ejection of reactive FeO_x nanoparticles on the surface of crystallites, and an increase in the surface defects. CeFeO₃ obtained in this study allows for achieving higher CO₂ conversion compared to LaFeO₃ at 600 °C.