Defect Structure of Y‑Doped Ceria on Different
Length Scales
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Abstract
An
exhaustive structural investigation of a Y-doped ceria (Ce<sub>1–<i>x</i></sub>Y<sub><i>x</i></sub>O<sub>2–<i>x</i>/2</sub>) system over different length
scales was performed by combining Rietveld and Pair Distribution Function
analyses of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. For low doping
amounts, which are the most interesting for application, the local
structure of Y-doped ceria can be envisaged as a set of distorted
CeO<sub>2</sub>- and Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-like droplets. By
considering interatomic distances on a larger scale, the above droplets
average out into domains resembling the crystallographic structure
of Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The increasing spread and amount of
the domains with doping forces them to interact with each other, leading
to the formation of antiphase boundaries. Single phase systems are
observed at the average ensemble level