Enhanced CeO2-supported Pt catalyst for water–gas shift reaction

Sodium-promoted, CeO2-supported, Pt catalyst were synthesized and investigated for water–gas shift (WGS) reaction. The ceria supports were synthesized by conventional precipitation method. The effect of the basic aqueous solutions used in the preparation procedure on the nature of Pt/CeO2 catalyst was examined by physical and chemical characterization analyses. The catalytic activity for the WGS reaction was observed. In the Pt/CeO2 catalyst prepared by NaOH, the presence of sodium (1.64 wt.%) on the support modified the base and electronic properties and consequently enhanced the catalytic activity of Pt/CeO2. Based on temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) analyses, we concluded that sodium introduced through the ceria preparation procedure played an important role in the WGS reaction as a promoter to induce the fast build-up of surface intermediates of the WGS reaction and also as an electron donor to modify the adsorption strength between CO and Pt.