Catalytic oxidation of CO over CuO/CeO2 nanocomposites synthesized via solution combustion method: effect of fuels

A series of CuO/CeO2 catalysts were successfully synthesized via solution combustion method (SCS) using different fuels and tested for CO oxidation. The catalysts were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR). It was found that the used fuels strongly affected the characterization and the low-temperature reduction behavior of CuO/CeO2 catalysts. The CuO/CeO2-urea catalyst exhibited higher catalytic activity toward CO oxidation (t50=120∘C, t100=159∘C) than the 5 other synthesized catalysts. In addition, the CuO/CeO2-urea catalyst displayed high stability for CO oxidation during five cycles and water resistance. The enhanced catalytic CO oxidation of the synthesized samples can be attributed by a combination of factors, such as smaller crystallite size, higher specific surface area, larger amount of amorphous copper(II) oxide, more mesoporous and uniform spherical-like structure. These findings are worth considering in order to continue the study of the CuO/CeO2 catalyst with low-temperature CO oxidation