Highly Active and Stable Pt-Loaded Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 Yolk-Shell Catalyst for Water-Gas Shift Reaction

Multishelled, Pt-loaded Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 yolk shell microspheres were prepared by a simple spray pyrolysis process for use in the water gas shift (WGS) reaction. The Pt-loading was optimized, obtaining highly active Pt/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 yolk shell nanostructures for the WGS. Of the prepared catalysts, a 2% Pt loading of the Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 yolk shell microspheres showed the highest CO conversion. The high catalytic activity of the 2% Pt/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 catalyst was mainly due to its easier reducibility and the maintenance of active catalytic Pt species. The Pt-loaded Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 catalyst microspheres were highly resistant to Pt sintering because of their unique yolk shell structure. Spray pyrolysis was found to be highly efficient for the production of precious-metal-loaded, multicomponent metal oxide yolk shell microspheres for catalytic applications.