Modulating the Activity and SO2 Resistance of α-Fe2O3 Catalysts for NH3–SCR of NOx via Crystal Facet Engineering

The development of Fe-based catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NO x by NH 3 (NH 3 –SCR of NO x ) has garnered significant attention due to their exceptional SO 2 resistance. However, the influence of different sulfur-containing species (e.g., ferric sulfates and ammonium sulfates) on the NH 3 –SCR activity of Fe-based catalysts as well as its dependence on exposed crystal facets of Fe 2 O 3 has not been revealed. This work disclosed that nanorod-like α-Fe 2 O 3 (Fe 2 O 3 –NR) predominantly exposing (110) facet performed better than nanosheet-like α-Fe 2 O 3 (Fe 2 O 3 –NS) predominantly exposing (001) facet in NH 3 –SCR reaction, due to the advantages of Fe 2 O 3 –NR in redox properties and surface acidity. Furthermore, the results of the SO 2 /H 2 O resistance test at a critical temperature of 250 °C, catalytic performance evaluations on Fe 2 O 3 –NR and Fe 2 O 3 –NS sulfated by SO 2 + O 2 or deposited with NH 4 HSO 4 (ABS), and systematic characterization revealed that the reactivity of ammonium sulfates on Fe 2 O 3 catalysts to NO(+O 2 ) contributed to their improved catalytic performance, while ferric sulfates showed enhancing and inhibiting effects on NH 3 –SCR activity on Fe 2 O 3 –NR and Fe 2 O 3 –NS, respectively; despite this, Fe 2 O 3 –NR showed higher affinity for SO 2 + O 2 . This work set a milestone in understanding the NH 3 –SCR reaction on Fe 2 O 3 catalysts in the presence of SO 2 from the aspect of crystal facet engineering.