Morphology-controlled synthesis of cage-bell Pd@CeO2 structured nanoparticle aggregates as catalysts for the low-temperature oxidation of CO

A facile generic strategy of combining template assisted and solvothermal alcoholysis is employed to prepare cage-bell Pd@CeO2 nanoparticle aggregates as catalysts for the low-temperature oxidation of CO. The synthetic parameters are regulated to control the size of the as-prepared CeO2 mesospheres. The activities of Pd@CeO2 catalysts are higher than that of Pd supported on Al2O3, and the activity of 1 wt% Pd@CeO2 can be further improved and its T90 is 2 °C. The intrinsic cage-bell nature as well as high porosity of the unique nanostructures of the CeO2 support contributes greatly to the formation of large numbers of surface oxygen vacancies on Pd@CeO2 catalysts, and thus it exhibits superior catalytic activity. This method is simple, low cost, mass-productive, and can also be used to prepare other advanced functional materials.