Highly dispersed Ptδ+ on TixCe(1−x)O2 as an active phase in preferential oxidation of CO

•Pt/CeO2–TiO2 is a better catalyst for PROX than Pt supported on pure oxides.•The support is directly related with the catalyst performance.•The absence of CeO2 hampers the O2 activation.•The absence of TiO2 limits the activation of CO.

Structure–activity relationships for 1 wt.% Pt catalysts were investigated for a series of TixCe(1−x)O2 (x = 1, 0.98, 0.9, 0.5, 0.2 and 0) supports prepared by the sol–gel method. The catalysts prepared by impregnation were characterized in detail by applying a wide range of techniques as N2-isotherms, XRF, XRD, Raman, XPS, H2-TPR, Drifts, UV–vis, etc. and tested in the preferential oxidation of CO in the presence of H2. Also several reaction conditions were deeply analyzed. A strong correlation between catalyst performance and the electronic properties let us to propose, based in all the experimental results, a plausible reaction mechanism where several redox cycles are involved.

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