Enhanced catalytic properties of Cu-based composites for NOx reduction with coexistence and intergrowth effect

Abstract

Cu-based composites were prepared by a facile preparation method and were employed as reactive catalysts for the elimination of NOx. The characterizations of XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), BET (Brunauer-Emmet-Teller), LRS (Laser Raman Spectra), H2-TPR (H2-Temperature-Program-Reduction), TGA-DSC (Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer-Differential Scanning Calorimetry), ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy), HRTEM (High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope), O2-TPD (O2-Temperature-Program-Desorption) and in situ FT-IR (in situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) show the formation of CuAl2O4 spinel during the calcination process and the coexistence and intergrowth effect among three-phases CuO-CuAl2O4-CeO2, promoting the increase of the amount of surface active sites. These results further present that the composite CCA800 exhibits the best catalytic performance in the elimination of NOx, completely converting NO to N2 at only 220 °C, which exhibits more excellent catalytic properties than the same type of Cu/Ce/Al catalysts applied in the field of the elimination of NOx. The coexistence and intergrowth effect among three-phases CuO-CuAl2O4-CeO2 greatly promotes the catalytic performance in the elimination of NOx.