The exceptional and unique properties of cerium dioxide have encouraged scientists to exploit this material beyond its traditional role as a promoter in automotive engines. Electrochemical processes relevant to fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors can be facilitated or even directly catalyzed by the CeO₂, whose redox properties are ideal for electrochemistry. However, given the insulating nature of pure ceria, the inclusion of conductive materials at the boundary with the metal oxide is necessary to boost the catalytic activity. Carbon in its various forms and morphologies is a dominant component in ceria-based electrocatalysts, significantly facilitating electron transfers and providing high surface area and improved stability. Moreover, given the improved electronic conductivity of reduced CeO₂ in the wake of the decreased grain boundary impedance, the combination with a conductive component, such as carbon, can facilitate a reduction of the ceria.

二氧化铈的特殊和独特性能鼓励科学家们开发这种材料，以超越其作为汽车发动机促进剂的传统作用。CeO ₂可以促进或什至直接催化与燃料电池，电解槽和传感器相关的电化学过程，其氧化还原性能非常适合电化学。然而，考虑到纯二氧化铈的绝缘性，必须在与金属氧化物的边界处包含导电材料以提高催化活性。各种形式和形态的碳是二氧化铈基电催化剂的主要成分，可显着促进电子转移，并提供高表面积和更高的稳定性。此外，由于降低了CeO，提高了电子电导率_{如图2所示}，在减小晶界阻抗之后，与导电成分例如碳的组合可以促进二氧化铈的减少。