Efficient Removal of Formaldehyde by Nanosized Gold on Well-Defined CeO2 Nanorods at Room Temperature

Gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) supported on well-defined ceria (CeO2) nanorods with exposed {110} and {100} facets were prepared by a deposition-precipitation method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. Both nanometer and subnanometer gold particles were found to coexist on ceria supports with various Au contents (0.01-5.4 wt %). The catalytic performance of Au/CeO2 catalysts was examined for formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation into CO2 and H2O at room temperature and shown to be Au content dependent, with 1.8 wt % Au/CeO2 displaying the best performance. On the basis of the results from hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy observations, the high reactivity and stability of Au/CeO2 catalysts is mainly attributed to the well-defined ceria nanorods with {110} and {100} facets which present a relatively low energy for oxygen vacancy formation. Furthermore, gold NPs could induce the weakened Ce-O bond which in turn promotes HCHO oxidation.