Enhanced CO oxidation activity of CuO/CeO2 catalyst prepared by surfactant-assisted impregnation method

A modified CuO/CeO2 catalyst was prepared by surfactant-assisted impregnation method and showed better catalytic activity for low temperature CO oxidation than that from conventional impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of different CuO/CeO2 catalysts were characterized by thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric measurements (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption-desorption, Raman spectroscopy, H-2 temperature-programmed reduction (H-2-TPR), temperature-programmed desorption of O-2 (O-2-TPD), and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The results suggested that the addition of hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) into the impregnation solution could improve the dispersion of CuO species, which could facilitate Cu2+ incorporating into CeO2 lattice and strengthened the synergistic effects between CuO and CeO2, making the lattice oxygen more active, and eventually resulting in enhanced activity for CO oxidation.