Ceria-zirconia oxides is thermodynamically favorable in a wide range of solid solution compositions, which means that ceria-zirconia is metastable with respect to phase separation. Ceria-zirconia is widely used as a component in current three-way catalytic converters. The ceria-based component of the converter has several functions, including promoting the dispersion of the noble metals in the catalyst, but also storing and releasing oxygen. The incorporation of zirconium in modern converters, forming ceria-zirconia, improves the performance of the catalyst by enhancing the resistance of the material to sintering, and simultaneously increasing the ability of the oxide to accommodate oxygen vacancies in its structure.
Zirconium(IV) bromide the solid state, featuring octahedral Zr centers. Zirconium(IV) bromide Zirconium(IV) bromide is the inorganic compound with the formula ZrBr. This colourless solid is the principal precursor to other Zr–Br compounds. ZrBr is prepared by the action of bromine on zirconium oxide via a carbothermic reaction: Like many related tetrahalides, it is purified by sublimation. Like related tetrabromides of Ti and Hf, ZrBr hydrolyzes readily to give oxy-bromide, with release of hydrogen bromide. No single crystal X-ray study of ZrBr has been described. Some reports suggest that it is isostructural with TiCl and TiBr, featuring tetrahedral metal centers. Other studies indicate