RT journal article
T1 Fine-Tuning Catalysts: The Role of Support Nanomorphology in Shaping Cu/CeO2CO-PROX Properties
A1 Fernández Villanueva, Estefanía
A1 Pérez Bailac, Patricia
A1 Lustemberg, Pablo G.
A1 Hungría Hernández, Ana Belén
A1 Pascual, Laura
A1 Cataluña, Renato
A1 Vidal Moya, Jose A.
A1 Blasco, Teresa
A1 Ganduglia Pirovano, M. Verónica
A1 Martínez Arias, Arturo
A2 Ciencia de los Materiales e Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Química Inorgánica
K1 Cu/CeO2 catalysts
K1 hydrogen
K1 CO-PROX
K1 DFT
K1 electron microscopy
K1 carbonyls infrared
AB Understanding how oxide nanomorphology directs metal–support interactions is key to designing selective, low-cost catalysts. The preferential oxidation of CO (CO-PROX) is vital for purifying H2streams for fuel cell applications, as even trace amounts of CO strongly poison the electrode catalysts. Cu/CeO2systems provide a cost-effective alternative to noble metals, yet the influence of ceria morphology on the performance remains unclear. Here, we compare low-loaded Cu catalysts supported on CeO2nanospheres and nanocubes. Although distinct in shape, electron microscopy, low-temperature CO adsorption infrared spectroscopy, and DFT calculations reveal surface reconstructions in nanocubes that diminish structural differences between the two supports. Nevertheless, the Cu/nanosphere catalyst shows higher CO oxidation activity, while the Cu/nanocube catalyst offers superior CO2selectivity and a broader full-conversion temperature window. In situ DRIFTS and DFT spectra attribute these contrasts to stronger CO adsorption sites in the nanocube system. Copper speciation and the nature of surface carbonyls were resolved through complementary techniques, including STEM-HAADF imaging, XEDS mapping, EPR, and CO adsorption IR spectroscopy, together with DFT. These results demonstrate that subtle variations in ceria morphology steer interfacial chemistry and reaction pathways, providing design principles for next-generation Cu-based catalysts for CO-PROX and related oxidation reactions.
PB American Chemical Society
SN 2155-5435
YR 2025
FD 2025-11
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39548
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39548
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 08-nov-2026