Effect of lanthanum loading on nanosized CeO2-ZnO solid catalysts supported on cordierite for diesel soot oxidation

Abstract We report the application of a solid lanthanum–ceria–zinc catalyst in the catalytic regeneration of diesel particulate filters (DPF) in diesel engines. We synthesized a CeO 2 –ZnO–La 2 O 3 (Ce–Zn–La) mixed oxide by a lactic acid-mediated sol–gel method, which efficiently coated cordierite substrates for soot capture and combustion. We studied the effects of La loading on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of Ce–Zn mixed oxide during low-temperature soot combustion processes. We characterized the synthesized catalysts by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N 2 adsorption, Raman spectroscopy, oxygen storage capacity (OSC), and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) confirmed that the catalysts effectively reduced the soot oxidation temperature. The ternary Ce–Zn–La mixed oxide catalyst with Ce/Zn/La atomic ratio of 2:1:0.5 had the highest catalytic activity and promoted soot oxidation at temperatures below 390°C. This indicated that the large number of oxygen vacancies in the catalyst structure generated oxygen species at low temperatures. Raman spectroscopy measurements revealed the presence of oxygen vacancies and lattice defects in Ce–Zn–La samples, which were key parameters concerning the stability and redox properties of the prepared catalysts.