CeO2/Cu2O/Cu Tandem Interfaces for Efficient Water-Gas Shift Reaction Catalysis

Metal-oxideinterfaces on Cu-based catalysts play very importantroles in the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction (LT-WGSR).However, developing catalysts with abundant, active, and robust Cu-metaloxide interfaces under LT-WGSR conditions remains challenging. Herein,we report the successful development of an inverse copper-ceriacatalyst (Cu@CeO2), which exhibited very high efficiencyfor the LT-WGSR. At a reaction temperature of 250 & DEG;C, the LT-WGSRactivity of the Cu@CeO2 catalyst was about three timeshigher than that of a pristine Cu catalyst without CeO2. Comprehensive quasi-in situ structural characterizations indicatedthat the Cu@CeO2 catalyst was rich in CeO2/Cu2O/Cu tandem interfaces. Reaction kinetics studies and densityfunctional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the Cu+/Cu-0 interfaces were the active sites for the LT-WGSR,while adjacent CeO2 nanoparticles play a key role in activatingH(2)O and stabilizing the Cu+/Cu-0 interfaces.Our study highlights the role of the CeO2/Cu2O/Cu tandem interface in regulating catalyst activity and stability,thus contributing to the development of improved Cu-based catalystsfor the LT-WGSR.

Automated summary

Metal-oxide interfaces on Cu-based catalysts are crucial for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction (LT-WGSR). However, developing catalysts with active and robust Cu-metal oxide interfaces under LT-WGSR conditions is challenging. In this study, a Cu@CeO2 catalyst with abundant CeO2/Cu2O/Cu interfaces was developed and showed significantly higher LT-WGSR activity compared to a pristine Cu catalyst. The Cu+/Cu0 interfaces were identified as the active sites, while the adjacent CeO2 nanoparticles played a key role in stabilizing the Cu+/Cu0 interfaces. This study contributes to the development of improved Cu-based catalysts for the LT-WGSR.