In Situ Characterization of the Dynamic Gold-Support Interaction over Ceria Modified Eu3+. Influence of the Oxygen Vacancies on the CO Oxidation Reaction

Gold-supported ceria and europium-doped ceria catalysts were prepared by the deposition-precipitation method. The influence of the pretreatment atmosphere and temperature on the concentration of oxygen vacancies and gold dispersion on the Au/CeEti(10) catalyst under actual reaction conditions was investigated by in situ X-ray diffraction and Raman analysis. By Raman spectroscopy, a preferential interaction of the gold with the support across the oxygen vacancies was established and correlated with the gold dispersion. The increase in the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the presence of hydrogen induces changes in the gold crystallite size by breaking-off and migration of gold nanoparticles toward the oxygen vacancies on the CeEu(10) support. The activity of the Au/CeEu(10) solid in the CO oxidation reaction was significantly improved when the catalyst was preactivated in a reducing atmosphere. This trend could be associated with the redispersion of gold together with the increase in the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the support.