Structural effects of interaction between lanthanum cuprate and cerium dioxide

In the present work the structural effects of La2CuO4 doping with CeO2, or of supporting the former on the latter, have been investigated. It was found that lanthanum oxide possesses a very good solubility in cerium dioxide in the presence of copper oxide, forming a solid solution. According to our experimental data, at 1050 degrees C and in the presence of copper oxide (over 1.5% mass), the boundary for the existence of the Ce1-zLazO2-z/2-delta phase falls between z = 0.398 and z = 0.462. Copper oxide itself has a very low, but appreciable solubility in this system. The excess of CuO strongly increases the rate of formation of the solid oxides solution, due to its relatively low melting point.