Pt/Fe-containing alumina catalysts prepared and treated with water under moderate conditions exhibit low-temperature CO oxidation activity

Pt/Fe-containing alumina catalysts were prepared and treated with water under moderate conditions. From transmission electron microscopy and Pt L-m extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurement, it was concluded that Pt nanoparticles and iron oxides formed efficient contacts in the catalysts probably because of the enhanced mobility of Pt species. Surprisingly, these catalysts could catalyze CO oxidation at low temperatures-even below 0 degrees C with very low apparent activation energy (9.2 kl/mol). The concept of interface fabrication demonstrated in this paper has the potential to be applied widely to various heterogeneous Pt-promoter catalytic systems. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.