Preparation and characteristics of nano-crystalline Cu-Ce-Zr-O composite oxides via a green route: supercritical anti-solvent process

The nano-crystalline Cu-Ce-Zr-O composite oxides were successfully prepared by the supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) process. The physicochemical properties and catalytic performances were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), oxygen storage capacity (OSC) measurement and catalytic activity evaluation. It was found that Cu2+ ions incorporated into CeO2-ZrO2 lattice to form Cu-Ce-Zr-O solid solution associated with the formation of oxygen vacancies. The Cu-Ce-Zr-O catalysts prepared via the SAS process with the Cu content 2.63 mol.% showed the highest OSC index of 636.9 μmol/g. Compared with the samples prepared by impregnation method, Cu doping using SAS process could improve the dispersion of Cu2+ in the composite oxide, enhance the interaction between Cu2+ and CeO2-ZrO2, improve the reducibility of catalyst, and thus improve the OSC performance and increase the catalytic activity for CO oxidation at low temperature.