Influence of pH values in the preparation of CuO-CeO 2 on its catalytic performance for the preferential oxidation of CO in excess hydrogen

Abstract

CuO-CeO 2 catalyst prepared with co-precipitation showed high catalytic performance for the preferential oxidation of CO in excess hydrogen (PROX). Influence of pH values in the preparation of CuO-CeO 2 on its catalytic performance was investigated in this work. The CuO-CeO 2 catalyst prepared at pH = 13.03 had the smallest particle size (5.4 nm), the largest surface areas (138 m 2/g) and the highest activity with CO conversion of 99.6% at 130 °C. The CuO-CeO 2 catalyst was characterized using BET, XRD and TPR techniques. The results showed that when the pH value of the mixed solution containing Cu and Ce species was properly adjusted, both the adsorption layers and diffusion layers of the formed colloidal particles in hydroxide precursor of CuO-CeO 2 were modified, resulting in the better catalytic performance for PROX on the final CuO-CeO 2 catalyst