Low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide on Pd(Pt)/CeO2 catalysts prepared from complex salts

Catalysts containing cerium oxide as a support and platinum and palladium as active components for the low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide were studied. The catalysts were synthesized in accordance with original procedures with the use of palladium and platinum complex salts. Regardless of preparation procedure, the samples prepared with the use of only platinum precursors did not exhibit activity at a low temperature because only metal and oxide (PtO, PtO2) nanoparticles were formed on the surface of CeO2. Unlike platinum, palladium can be dispersed on the surface of CeO2 to a maximum extent up to an almost an ionic (atomic) state, and it forms mixed surface phases with cerium oxide. In a mixed palladium-platinum catalyst, the ability of platinum to undergo dispersion under the action of palladium also increased; as a result, a combined surface phase with the formula Pd x Pt y CeO2 − δ, which exhibits catalytic activity at low temperatures, was formed.