The project’s nature, which is at the frontier between catalysis and materials science, is a good opportunity for the researchers and PhD students to be trained in different areas necessary to conduct modern research in chemistry.

Relevant expertise: The team’s competences are in the field of chemistry, catalysis, materials and engineering.

The CERCO2R team is the following:

NIMP:

Mihaela Florea - PhD, habil. - principal investigator, specialized in material synthesis and surface characterization, in charge of management and dissemination tasks.

Members:

Anca Mirea - PhD, postdoc, in charge of electron microscopy studies, characterization and dissemination.

Mihaela M. Trandafir - PhD, postdoc, in charge of samples preparation, dissemination.

Iulia M. Chirica - PhD student, in charge of XRD, RAMAN and UV-vis characterization, dissemination.

STIMPEX SA

Vasile Somoghi – PhD, principal investigator, specialized in material synthesis and scaling up reactor design.

First stage 2025

• Laboratory-scale synthesis of cerium oxide by modified precipitation.
• Partial characterization of cerium oxide prepared by modified precipitation (electron microscopy, adsorption-desorption isotherms, XRD, Raman, H2-TPR).

During the first stage of the project, CeO2 samples were prepared by a modified precipitation method, optimizing the reaction parameters. It has been observed that the preparation method influences the textural properties of the synthesized CeO2, where a specific surface area (SSA) of about 60 m2/g was obtained, the SSA being higher compared with the results already reported in the literature [ ].

During this phase, in order to scale-up the synthesis of CeO2 together with the partner from STIMPEX it was prepared from 2 g up to 10 g, it was observed that the textural and structural properties of the material were preserved (see Figure 2).

Moreover, different batches for 10g were prepared to verify the reproducibility of the synthesis.

1. Cu doped ceria materials active catalysts for CO2 reduction reaction , Mihaela M. Trandafir, Iuliana M. Chirica, Anca G. Mirea, Alexandra C. Iacoban, Ana-Maria Virlan, Mihaela Florea, in preparation

1. Ceria-doped materials synthesis and characterization, Mihaela M. Trandafir, Iuliana M. Chirica, Anca G. Mirea, Alexandra C. Iacoban, Ana-Maria Virlan, Mihaela Florea, MedMolMed 2025, 10-15 November 2025, Chișinău, Republica Moldova

Project Contact Person:

Dr. Mihaela Florea, mihaela.florea@infim.ro

Postal address: Atomistilor street, no. 405A, Magurele, 077125, Romania.