Improved CO-PROX Performance of CuO/CeO2 Catalysts by Using Nanometric Ceria as Support

Redox behavior of potassium doped and transition metal co-doped Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 for thermochemical H2O/CO2 splitting

CeO₂ slow redox kinetics as well as low oxygen exchange ability limit its application as a catalyst in solar thermochemical two-step cycles. In this study, Ce_0.75Zr_0.25O₂ catalysts doped with potassium or transition metals (Cu, Mn, Fe), as well as co-doped materials were synthesized. Samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ sorption (BET), as well as by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to gain insight into surface and bulk features, which were connected to redox properties assessed both in a thermogravimetric (TG) balance and in a fixed bed reactor. Obtained results revealed that doping as well as co-doping with non-reducible K cations promoted the increase of both surface and bulk oxygen vacancies. Accordingly, K-doped and Fe-K co-doped materials show the best redox performances evidencing the highest reduction degree, the largest H₂ amounts and the fastest kinetics, thus emerging as very interesting materials for solar thermochemical splitting cycles.

Potassium doped and co-doped ceria–zirconia show improved CO₂/H₂O splitting activity. This holds huge promise for the design of high performance systems for solar thermochemical splitting cycles allowing the production of solar fuels.

High-Performing Au-Ag Bimetallic Catalysts Supported on Macro-Mesoporous CeO2 for Preferential Oxidation of CO in H2-Rich Gases

We report here an investigation on the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in an H2-rich stream (CO-PROX reaction) over mono and bimetallic Au-Ag samples supported on macro-mesoporous CeO2. The highly porous structure of ceria and the synergistic effect, which occurs between the bimetallic Au-Ag system and the support, led to promising catalytic performance at low temperature (CO2 yield of 88% and CO2 selectivity of 100% at 60 °C), which is suitable for a possible application in the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The morphological, structural, textural and surface features of the catalysts were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), N2-adsoprtion-desorption measurements, Temperature Programmed Reduction in hydrogen (H2-TPR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the catalytic stability of the best active catalyst, i.e., the AuAg/CeO2 sample, was evaluated also in the presence of water vapor and carbon dioxide in the gas stream. The excellent performances of the bimetallic sample, favored by the peculiar porosity of the macro-mesoporous CeO2, are promising for possible scale-up applications in the H2 purification for PEM fuel cells.

Effect of Hydrazine Pretreatment on the Activity, Stability and Active Sites of Cobalt Species for Preferential Oxidation (PROX) of CO in H2-Rich Stream

The as-prepared (Co3O4) and hydrazine-treated (Co3O4(H)) cobalt catalysts were prepared using the precipitation method and evaluated at a temperature range of 40–220 °C for preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO in excess hydrogen. An improved surface reducibility with smaller crystallite size was noted on hydrazine-treated cobalt species (i.e., Co3O4(H) catalyst), which indicates some surface transformation. This finding correlates with the surface roughness formation (as depicted by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) data), which was further confirmed by an increase in the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area. The mesoporous structure of the Co3O4(H) catalyst remained intact, as compared to that of the Co3O4 catalyst. Interestingly, the in situ treatment of the standalone Co3O4(H) catalyst decreased the maximum CO conversion temperature (T100%) from 160 °C (over Co3O4) to 100 °C, with good selectivity. The Co3O4(H) catalyst showed good stability, with approximately 85% CO conversion at 100 °C for 21 h, as compared to a faster deactivation of the Co3O4 catalyst. However, the Co3O4(H) catalyst was unstable in both CO2 and the moisture environment. Based on the evaluation of spent hydrazine-treated (CoO(H)) cobalt catalyst, the high PROX activity is associated with the formation of Co3+ species as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) data.

Catalytic Behaviour of Flame-Made CuO-CeO2 Nanocatalysts in Efficient CO Oxidation

CuO-CeO2 nanocatalysts with varying CuO contents (1, 5, 9, 14 and 17 wt %) were prepared by one-step flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) and applied to CO oxidation. The influences of CuO content on the as-prepared catalysts were systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption at −196 °C, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and hydrogen-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR). A superior CO oxidation activity was observed for the 14 wt % CuO-CeO2 catalyst, with 90% CO conversion at 98 °C at space velocity (60,000 mL × g−1 × h−1), which was attributed to abundant surface defects (lattice distortion, Ce3+, and oxygen vacancies) and high reducibility supported by strong synergistic interaction. In addition, the catalyst also displayed excellent stability and resistance to water vapor. Significantly, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (in situ DRIFTS) showed that in the CO catalytic oxidation process, the strong synergistic interaction led readily to dehydroxylation and CO adsorption on Cu+ at low temperature. Furthermore, in the feed of water vapor, although there was an adverse effect on the access of CO adsorption, there was also a positive effect on the formation of fewer carbon intermediates. All these results showed the potential of highly active and water vapor-resistive CuO-CeO2 catalysts prepared by FSP.

Study of synergistic effect between CuO and CeO2 over CuO@CeO2 core–shell nanocomposites for NH3-SCO

CuO@CeO₂ core–shell nanocomposites were fabricated and applied in NH₃-SCO. Synergistic effect of CuO–CeO₂ promotes the formation of the Cu–O–Ce structure, which is beneficial to N₂ selectivity.

Hollow copper–ceria microspheres with single and multiple shells for preferential CO oxidation

The triple-shelled CuO/CeO₂ exhibits superior catalytic performance for CO-PROX due to its fine-tunable geometric and electronic interactions.

The Use of Copper Oxide Thin Films in Gas-Sensing Applications

In this work, the latest achievements in the field of copper oxide thin film gas sensors are presented and discussed. Several methods and deposition techniques are shown with their advantages and disadvantages for commercial applications. Recently, CuO thin film gas sensors have been studied to detect various compounds, such as: nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, as well as several volatile organic compounds in many different applications, e.g., agriculture. The CuO thin film gas sensors exhibited high 3-S parameters (sensitivity, selectivity, and stability). Furthermore, the possibility to function at room temperature with long-term stability was proven as well, which makes this material very attractive in gas-sensing applications, including exhaled breath analysis.