Controlled pore size of 3D mesoporous Cu-Ce based catalysts and influence of surface textures on the CO catalytic oxidation

•3D Cu-Ce-Ox catalysts were synthesized by a facile hard-template method.•KIT-6 with different pores was prepared by changing the hydrothermal time.•The Ce3+, Cu+ species were main activity site of Cu-Ce-Ox.•The highest catalytic activity when the hydrothermal time is 24 h.

In this paper, 3D Cu-Ce-Ox catalysts with controllable pore diameters were rationally designed and synthesized by a facile hard-template method. By controlling the hydrothermal synthesis time, mesoporous silica KIT-6 with different pores were prepared. Then, the 3D Cu-Ce-Ox catalysts were synthesized by nano-replication technology with KIT-6 as hard template. These catalysts expressed 3D pore structure, possessed higher pore volume and large pores, and owned more surface active sites, which were helpful for CO oxidation. When the synthesis time of KIT-6 was 24 h, this catalyst showed the highest catalytic activity. The reason was due to its relatively stronger redox ability and surface activity species. More Ce3+, Cu+ and chemical adsorbed oxygen concentration was very useful in achieving the highest catalytic performance.

Graphical abstractIn this paper, 3D Cu-Ce-Ox catalysts with controllable pore diameters were synthesized by a hard-template method. By controlling the hydrothermal synthesis time, mesoporous silica KIT-6 with different pores were prepared. The CeCu20-KIT-6-24 showed the highest catalytic activity, where CO can be fully oxidized at 65 °C and expressed excellent stability.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide