Nanoporous CeO2-Ag catalysts prepared by etching the CeO2/CuO/Ag2O mixed oxides for CO oxidation

Abstract The uniform nanoporous CeO2 catalysts with different content of Ag were prepared by etching the CuO/CeO2/Ag2O mixed oxides in a HCl aqueous solution. The removal of CuO resulted in the formation of ultrafine nanoporous CeO2, inside which Ag nanoparticles were formed in situ by combining a chemical reduction. The sizes of pore channel and ligament were less than 20 nm. The test results revealed that the nanoporous CeO2-Ag catalysts exhibited an enhanced catalytic activity toward the oxidation of CO. The catalytic activity was attributed to the enhancement of interfacial interaction between CeO2 ligament and Ag particle.