Catalytic Activity and Thermal Stability of Arc Plasma Deposited Pt Nano-Particles on CeO2-Al2O3

Abstract

In this study, catalytic activity and thermal stability of the arc plasma deposited (APD) Pt nano-particles on Al2O3 and CeO2-Al2O3 were compared with that of the conventionally prepared Pt/Al2O3. All the catalysts were characterized by BET-surface area, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, CO-pulse chemisorption, H-2-temperarture programmed reduction and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. Through the quantum chemical calculations of different metal oxide support, CeO2 was identified as a suitable anchoring material with high energy level between the Pt species (Pt-0 and PtOx) on ceria. Subsequently, the results of XPS and XANES revealed the presence of abundant Pt metal species in APD catalysts. The addition of ceria to Al2O3 support enhanced the dispersion of Pt nano-particles. The H-2-TPR of Pt/CeO2-Al2O3 (APD) catalyst showed high-temperature reduction peaks corresponding to the interaction of Pt with ceria on alumina by Pt-O-Ce. Consequently, the Pt nano-particles deposited on CeO2-Al2O3 by APD attained strong thermal resistance at high temperatures. In addition, superior catalytic activities for CO and C3H6 oxidation and NOx reduction were obtained for the Pt/CeO2-Al2O3 (APD) catalyst.