Environmentally benign synthesis of a PGM-free catalyst for low temperature CO oxidation

Dopants enhance the catalytic properties of ceria. However, conventional techniques for synthesizing doped ceria have limitations in terms of structural homogeneity, surface area, and catalytic activity of the resulting oxide. Use of toxic and corrosive chemicals presents further challenges. The sol-gel method described in this work provides a facile approach for incorporating high concentrations of dopants in a uniform, high surface area structure, yielding excellent catalytic activity. Addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) complexing agent prevents the segregation of cerium and dopant atoms during synthesis. Surface areas up to 179 m2/g are achieved, which represents a substantial improvement over doped ceria produced through coprecipitation, solution combustion, or melt-synthesis methods. The resulting powders exhibit dramatically improved CO oxidation activity (T90 = 132 °C for 3.2 wt% Cu-CeO2 compared to 274 °C for a 2 wt% Pt-Al2O3 reference catalyst). First principles calculations suggest a Mars Van Krevelen mechanism, which is facilitated by dopants causing oxygen vacancies.