CeO2 Promoted CuO/MgO-Al2O3 Catalyst with Enhanced Activity and Water-Resistance for CO Oxidation

Ye, Kailong; Xie, Shaohua; Zhang, Xing; Kim, Daekun; Loukusa, Jeremia; Ma, Lu; Ehrlich, Steven N.; Liu, Fudong

doi:10.1021/acsestengg.5c00303

CeO₂ Promoted CuO/MgO-Al₂O₃ Catalyst with Enhanced Activity and Water-Resistance for CO Oxidation

Journal Article · Mon May 19 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · ACS ES&T Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.5c00303· OSTI ID:2569457

Ye, Kailong ^[1]; Xie, Shaohua ^[1]; ^[2]; Kim, Daekun ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[3]; Ehrlich, Steven N. ^[3]; ^[1]

Univ. of California, Riverside, CA (United States)
Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL (United States)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)

Copper (Cu)-based catalysts have emerged as cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to noble metal systems (e.g., Pt, Pd) for catalytic CO oxidation. However, their practical application is hindered by insufficient low-temperature activity and rapid deactivation under wet conditions containing moisture. To address these challenges, this work introduces CeO₂-modified CuO/MgO-Al₂O₃ (Cu-Ce/MA) catalysts, strategically designed to enhance the catalytic performance and water resistance simultaneously. These catalytic materials were evaluated for CO oxidation under both dry and humid conditions, revealing that CeO₂ modification significantly improves the low-temperature activity. Specifically, the optimal catalyst, Cu-30Ce/MA, achieved a 50% CO conversion temperature (T₅₀) of 151 °C, a marked reduction from 218 °C on Cu/MA reference catalyst. Furthermore, the water resistance improves in a CeO₂ content-dependent manner, with higher CeO₂ loadings imparting greater stability in humid environments. Detailed characterizations demonstrate that CeO₂ promotes the dispersion of CuO and stabilizes Cu sites, while also enhancing the low-temperature reducibility and CO adsorption capacity. Crucially, CeO₂ modification suppresses the competitive H₂O adsorption, mitigating water-induced deactivation. These synergistic effects collectively rationalize the superior activity and durability of Cu-Ce/MA catalysts. By elucidating the dual role of CeO₂ in optimizing Cu-based systems, this study advances the rational design of cost-effective catalysts for real-world CO emission control, particularly under water-rich industrial conditions.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704

OSTI ID:: 2569457

Report Number(s):: BNL--228256-2025-JAAM

Journal Information:: ACS ES&T Engineering, Journal Name: ACS ES&T Engineering; ISSN 2690-0645

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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CO adsorption
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water resistance

CeO2 Promoted CuO/MgO-Al2O3 Catalyst with Enhanced Activity and Water-Resistance for CO Oxidation

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References (49)

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CeO₂ Promoted CuO/MgO-Al₂O₃ Catalyst with Enhanced Activity and Water-Resistance for CO Oxidation