Physico-chemical investigation of catalytic oxidation sites in 4%Rh/CeO2 catalysts prepared by impregnation and deposition-precipitation methods

4 wt% Rh/CeO2 catalysts were prepared by two different methods: deposition-precipitation (DP) and impregnation (Imp). X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC-TG), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) were used for physicochemical characterization. The solids were tested in propylene and carbon black oxidation reactions. The 4%Rh/CeO2 (DP) showed better catalytic performance in both reactions compared to the catalyst prepared by the impregnation method. The XRD technique evidenced the formation of Rh2O3 phase in the DP-solid after calcination of this latter at 400 degrees C for 4 h. EPR evidenced, only in the DP-solid, the presence of O-2(-) species in interaction with the CeO2 surface whereas Rh4+ ions in the form of clusters were identified in both solids. The TPR technique showed that the DP-solid was reduced by hydrogen at lower temperature compared to the impregnated one. The higher catalytic performance of the DP-solid was attributed to the presence of O-2(-) species along with the presence of Rh2O3 phase in ceria and to the better reducibility and lower particle size of the rhodium species.