Dulgheru, PetricaPetricaDulgheruSullivan, James A.James A.Sullivan2013-04-182014-02-282013 Sprin2013-05Topics in Catalysishttp://hdl.handle.net/10197/4256A series of rare earth (RE) (La, Nd, Pr) ceria zirconia materials were analysed for their soot combustion activity in air and in NO/O2. The materials were characterised using DRIFT spectroscopy. In general the presence of the RE dopant increases the activity of undoped CexZr1-xO2. The La and Pr doped catalysts showed increased low temperature activity in the presence of NO/O2 while the effect was less pronounced in case of Nd - doped samples. FTIR data has shown that the catalysts interact differently to NO/O2 mixtures in that they do not form significant quantities of adsorbed nitrite-type species. We postulate that this species is a precursor to NO2 formation which in turn increases soot combustion.enThe final publication is available at www.springerlink.comLean burnRare earth oxidesSootParticulate matterDiesel enginesSoot oxidationDRIFTS spectroscopyTGAJournal Article561-850451010.1007/s11244-013-0006-52013-03-04https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ie/