Nanogold mesoporous iron promoted ceria catalysts for total and preferential CO oxidation reactions

•Highly efficient nanogold based catalysts for CO elimination reactions.•Full CO abatement at sub-ambient temperatures, an interesting feature for environmental applications.•Rather good performance in the preferential CO oxidation under realistic post-reforming streams.•Ce–Fe synergy as the key point in the catalytic design.

Herein, a series of highly efficient gold based catalysts supported on mesoporous CeO2–Fe2O3 mixed oxides for CO elimination reactions have been developed. The materials have been fully characterized by means of XRD, Raman and UV–vis spectroscopies among other techniques. We identify the Ce–Fe synergism as a fundamental factor controlling the catalytic performance. Our data clearly reveal that the CO oxidation activity is maximized when the electronic and structural properties of the support are carefully controlled. In this situation, fairly good catalysts for environmental applications as for example H2 streams purification for fuel cell goals or CO abatement at room temperature can be designed.

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