Au/Fe2O3 Water-Gas Shift Catalyst Prepared by Modified Deposition-Precipitation Method

The Au/Fe2O3 catalyst was prepared by co-precipitation, deposition-precipitation, and modified deposition-precipitation methods and was characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The catalyst activity for the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction was discussed. Under strictly controlled conditions, the Au/Fe2O3 catalyst prepared by modified deposition-precipitation displayed higher activity for the WGS reaction than that prepared by co-precipitation and deposition-precipitation. In the former case, the CO conversion of 82.3% was obtained with a feed gas of 10% CO/N2 at 150 °C. Wherein, gold particles of 3–5 nm were highly dispersed on the surface of the Fe2O3 support that existed in an amorphous and crystalline state. A relatively strong interaction between gold particles and the support occurred, which was beneficial for the WGS reaction.