CeO2/CuO/3DOM SiO2 catalysts with very high efficiency and stability for CO oxidation

Abstract

Based on the urgent need for highly active and stable catalysts for CO conversion at low temperature, a CeO₂/CuO/SiO₂ ordered macroporous composite catalyst with a 3DOM structure was prepared. The 3DOM matrix possesses a fairly high specific surface area of 598 m² g⁻¹ and a large pore size of 250-300 nm, which stably assembles CeO₂ and CuO nanoparticles but without clogging the pores. The 0.5CeO₂/0.25CuO/3DOM SiO₂ catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity to CO, due to the synergistic effect of CeO₂, CuO and metal–support interactions. The conversion of CO can reach 100% at 160 °C and maintain excellent stability up to 12 h, due to the abundant lattice oxygen vacancies in CeO₂. The adsorption behavior of CO molecules on the 0.5CeO₂/0.25CuO/3DOM catalyst was further confirmed by in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the possible mechanism of CO oxidation was explained.