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Mesoporous Cu-Ce-Ox Solid Solutions from Spray Pyrolysis for Superior Low-Temperature CO Oxidation
Rengui Li1, Yixuan Yang1, Na Sun1
1School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, the Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Materials & Substance Catalytic Conversion of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Polytechnic University, Beijing Middle Road, Wuhu, 241000, P.R. China.
Developing platinum-free catalysts is key for low-temperature carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation. Mesoporous copper-cerium oxide (Cu-Ce-Ox) solid solutions prepared via spray pyrolysis show high activity and stability, outperforming other methods.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Materials Science
- Environmental Chemistry
Background:
- Platinum group metals are crucial for low-temperature CO oxidation but are expensive and scarce.
- Developing efficient, cost-effective, and stable alternatives is a critical research area.
- Metal-free catalysts offer a promising avenue for sustainable catalytic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel mesoporous copper-cerium oxide (Cu-Ce-Ox) solid solutions.
- To evaluate the catalytic performance of these materials for low-temperature CO oxidation.
- To elucidate the active sites and reaction mechanism responsible for CO oxidation.
Main Methods:
- Spray pyrolysis was employed to synthesize mesoporous Cu-Ce-Ox solid solutions.
- Catalytic activity was assessed through CO oxidation experiments at low temperatures.
- Physicochemical properties were analyzed using techniques like BET surface area analysis.
- Selective leaching was used to identify active catalytic sites.
Main Results:
- Spray-pyrolysis-derived Cu-Ce-Ox catalysts exhibited significantly higher activity compared to those synthesized via co-precipitation, sol-gel, and hydrothermal methods.
- The optimal Cu0.2-Ce0.8-Ox solid solution demonstrated over 28 times higher reactivity than individual CuO and CeO2 components at 70°C.
- The bimetallic Cu-Ce-O site was identified as the active center for CO oxidation, with individual CuO x species acting as inactive sites.
- A low apparent activation energy of ~48 kJ/mol was determined for CO oxidation at the Cu-Ce-O site.
Conclusions:
- Mesoporous Cu-Ce-Ox solid solutions synthesized by spray pyrolysis are highly active and stable catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation.
- The synergistic effect between Cu and Ce in the solid solution creates active sites that are superior to individual components.
- These catalysts offer a cost-effective and efficient alternative to platinum-based catalysts for environmental applications.
