Preparation of mesoporous Fe-Cu mixed metal oxide nanopowder as active and stable catalyst for low-temperature CO oxidation

Abstract

A series of mesoporous Fe-Cu mixed metal oxide nanopowders with different Cu/Fe molar ratios and high specific surface areas were synthesized via a simple, inexpensive, surfactant-free sol-gel route using propylene oxide as the gelation agent. The catalytic behavior of the nanopowders in low-temperature CO oxidation was investigated using a microreactor-gas chromatography system. The prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, temperature-programmed reduction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. These mesoporous Fe-Cu mixed metal oxide catalysts had nanocrystalline structures, narrow pore size distributions, and high surface areas; they showed high catalytic activities and stabilities in low-temperature CO oxidation. The addition of CuO to iron oxide affected the structure and catalytic performance of the iron oxide. The catalyst containing 15 mol% CuO had the highest specific surface area and catalytic activity, and showed high catalytic stability in low-temperature CO oxidation.