3D Gold-Modified Cerium and Cobalt Oxide Catalyst on a Graphene Aerogel for Highly Efficient Catalytic Formaldehyde Oxidation

A hard template method is used to prepare porous gold-doped cerium and cobalt oxide (Au-CexCoy) materials. A series of 3D Au-Ce Co-x(y)/graphene aerogel (GA) composites is then fabricated by a facile heating method. The obtained catalysts possess a well-defined structure of ordered arrays of nanotubes and good performance in formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation. The composition and surface elemental valence states of the catalysts are modulated by the Ce/Co molar ratio. The Au-CexCoy catalyst and graphene oxide sheets are well compounded within 60 s through a diamine cross-linker to form 3D Au-CexCoy/GA composites. In addition, the resulting catalyst of 3 wt% Au-Ce3Co/GA achieves approximate to 55% conversion at room temperature and 100% conversion when the reaction temperature is raised at 60 degrees C. The synergistic effect between CeO2 and Co3O4 promotes the migration of oxygen species and the activation of Au, which facilitates HCHO oxidation. The method used to prepare the 3D catalyst could be used to produce other catalytic materials with good replication of the template. In addition, these findings provide a simple method for rapid fabrication of catalyst/GA composites. The superior activity and stability of the 3D Au-Ce3Co/GA catalyst make it potentially applicable in HCHO removal.