Wood-inspired high-performing hierarchical porous Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 catalyst for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NOx by NH3

Inspired by natural wood, novel Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 catalyst with hierarchical porous structure, W-CeZr, was fabricated using wood template method by utilizing catheter pores and pits in poplar. W-CeZr catalyst was then used for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 for the first time. Compared with conventional Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 catalyst (C-CeZr), W-CeZr catalyst mimicked biological microstructure of wood and exhibited much greater low-temperature activity than C-CeZr, i.e., NO conversion for W-CeZr was 100% in the range of 250-350 degrees C, while that for C-CeZr was only 58.1% at 250 degrees C. Based on a series of characterization techniques, this effect can be attributed to an increase in surface area (m(2).g(-1)), enrichment of Ce3+, and enrichment of surface-active oxygen species by 133.7%, 60%, and 59.5% compared to C-CeZr, respectively. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy results show that more activated reactants were present on the surface of W-CeZr because of its stronger surface acidity, as well as redox and oxygen storage abilities.

Automated summary

A novel Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 catalyst with hierarchical porous structure, W-CeZr, was fabricated using a wood template method and utilized for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 for the first time. W-CeZr catalyst exhibited much greater low-temperature activity compared to conventional Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 catalyst (C-CeZr), attributed to increased surface area, enrichment of Ce3+, and enrichment of surface-active oxygen species.