Enhanced oxidation of CO by using a porous biomorphic CuO/CeO2/Al2O3 compound

Self-support porous biomorphic CuO/CeO2/Al2O3 catalysts with different elemental composition were synthesized by using cotton as template. The samples were characterized via SEM, nitrogen gas sorption surface analysis, XRD and Raman scattering. Their performances in catalytic CO oxidation were investigated. The samples consisted of network of mesoporous hollow fibers composing of nanometer-sized CuO, CeO2 and Al2O3 grains. We found that optimal CO oxidation was achieved by using the sample with Cu/Ce/Al weight ratio of 1/5/2. Low Cu content resulted in the formation of the CuCeO solution, the active component for CO oxidation. Small amount of alumina improved the catalytic activity because it promoted the oxygen diffusivity of ceria by reducing the size of ceria crystallites. The catalytic performance of the biomorphic product was compared with a control powder sample. The hollow fibrous structure of the product was found to enhance the catalytic activities by facilitating the passage for the flows of gaseous reactants.

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► The biomorphic CuO/CeO2/Al2O3 was characterized.
► Its performance on the catalytic CO oxidation was studied.
► Effects of elemental composition and biomorphic structure were investigated.
► The optimal Cu/Ce/Al weight ratio of the catalyst was determined to be 1/5/2.
► Biomorphic structure has an enhancing effect to the CO oxidation.