Preparation of CuxCe1-xO2-x/SBA-15 catalysts and the catalytic properties of CO oxidation

CuxCe1-xO2-x/SBA-15 (x = 0-1) catalysts were prepared using the mesoporous silica material SBA-15 as the support. The catalysts were characterized by N-2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reduction. The catalytic activity of the catalysts for the oxidation of CO was evaluated and the activation energies were obtained by avoiding internal and external diffusions. The results indicated that highly dispersed CuO was formed in the obtained catalysts when the Cu content was low. Co-impregnation with Cu and Ce salt solutions does not destroy the SBA-15 mesoporous structure. Both Cu2+ and Cu+ existed on the surface of the obtained catalysts, while the Ce4+ was the main Ce species. All the obtained catalysts showed excellent activities for the combustion of CO. CO could be totally oxidized at 187 A degrees C at the space velocity of 48,000 mL/(g h).