Synthesis of Au-CeO2/SiO2 catalyst via adsorbed-layer reactor technique combined with alcohol-thermal treatment

► A new method was introduced to synthesize Au-CeO2/SiO2 catalyst. ► CeO2 size and its surface microstructure were easily and simultaneously controlled. ► Au played an increasingly important role with reaction temperature increasing. ► The effect of CeO2 size could be unified into that of oxygen species' content.