Physicochemical characterization of Pt and Ir particles deposited on Ce(1-x)Ru(x)O2 solid-solutions for CO oxidation

Pt/Ce1-xRuxO2 and Ir/Ce1-xRuxO2 catalysts were prepared through the sol-gel technique, under microwave heating. In a first step, the Ce1-xRuxO2 solid solutions were prepared. Subsequently, an incipient wet impregnation process was carried out to homogeneously achieve the dispersion, either of platinum or iridium nanoparticles. The Pt/Ce1-xRuxO2 and Ir/Ce1-xRuxO2 catalysts were characterized by means of SEM, XRD, XPS, TEM, and specific surface area measurements. Crystal size and shifting into the CeO2 structure were detected after ruthenium doping producing the Ce1-xRuxO2 solid-solutions. Trough XPS technique Pt and Ir nanoparticles were found evenly dispersed in a metallic state. Those features allow us to foresee that, in the near future, these materials could be used efficiently as catalysts for oxidation process.