Support structure effect on CO oxidation: A comparative study on SiO2 nanospheres and CeO2 nanorods supported CuOx catalysts

Abstract The effect of support reducibility and reduction treatment was studied in SiO 2 nanospheres and CeO 2 nanorods supported CuO x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) catalysts on CO oxidation. CuO nanoparticles were impregnated on SiO 2 nanospheres and CeO 2 nanorods using thermal decomposition method and then the samples were oxidized in air at different temperatures (400–600 °C). The sample oxidized at 400 °C was also further reduced under hydrogen atmosphere to compare the effect of reduction treatment on the catalytic activity. Detailed XRD, Raman, H 2 -TPR, and CO oxidation analyses were carried out to understand the effect of CuO x -support interaction and different CuO x species on the catalytic performance. Compared to SiO 2 nanospheres supported CuO x catalysts, both CuO/CeO 2 and reduced CuO x /CeO 2 catalysts exhibited superior catalytic performance in terms of CO conversion and low-temperature hydrogen consumption. The enhanced activity of CeO 2 nanorods supported CuO x catalysts was correlated strongly to the surface defects on CeO 2 nanorods and interfacial structures.