Efficient low-temperature catalytic combustion of trichloroethylene over flower-like mesoporous Mn-doped CeO2 microspheres

Flower-like mesoporous Mn-doped CeO2 microspheres with three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structures were successfully prepared by a hydrothermal method with the aid of glucose and acrylic acid and subsequent particular thermal treatment, and characterized by SEM, XRD, N2 adsorption/desorption, H2-TPR, XPS, Raman spectra and so on. The results show that the atomic ratios of Mn/(Ce + Mn) in the Ce–Mn–O samples as well as their morphologies affect obviously their catalytic performances for low-temperature catalytic combustion of trichloroethylene (TCE). These flower-like Ce–Mn–O microspheres have not only very excellent activity but also high stability, compared with pure flower-like CeO2 microspheres or bulk Ce–Mn–O samples. The flower-like sample with atomic ratio of Mn/(Ce + Mn) of 0.21 exhibits the best activity, for instance, T50 (the temperature for 50% conversion of TCE) is as low as 87 °C, showing much higher catalytic activity than the sample prepared by a co-precipitation or sol–gel method. High surface area, high oxygen mobility and rich surface active oxygen species are responsible for the high catalytic performance of flower-like Mn-doped CeO2 microspheres, compared with general Ce–Mn–O mixed oxides.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ Flower-like mesoporous Mn-doped CeO2 microspheres were prepared by a hydrothermal method. ▶ Flower-like Ce–Mn–O microspheres have an excellent catalytic activity for TCE combustion. ▶ Flower-like Ce–Mn–O microspheres show much higher catalytic activity than general Ce–Mn–O mixed oxides. ▶ T50 (the temperature for 50% conversion of TCE) over flower-like Ce–Me–O microspheres is as low as 87 ̊C. ▶ Flower-like mesoporous Ce–Mn–O microspheres have high stability.