Preparation of mesoporous Fe-Cu mixed metal oxide nanopowder as active and stable catalyst for low-temperature CO oxidation

چکیده مقاله

A series of mesoporous Fe‐Cu mixed metal oxide nanopowders with different Cu/Fe molar ratios and high specific surface areas were synthesized via a simple, inexpensive, surfactant‐free sol‐gel route using propylene oxide as the gelation agent. The catalytic behavior of the nanopowders in low‐temperature CO oxidation was investigated using a microreactor‐gas chromatography system. The prepared materials were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, N2 adsorption‐desorption, thermogravimetric‐ differential thermal analysis, temperature‐programmed reduction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. These mesoporous Fe‐Cu mixed metal oxide catalysts had nanocrystalline structures, narrow pore size distributions, and high surface areas; they showed high catalytic activities and stabilities in low‐temperature CO oxidation. The addition of CuO to iron oxide affected the structure and catalytic performance of the iron oxide. The catalyst containing 15 mol% CuO had the highest specific surface area and catalytic activity, and showed high catalytic stability in low‐temperature CO oxidation.