Characterization of PdO/Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 catalysts for carbon monoxide and methane oxidation

The Ce_0.8Y_0.2O_1.9 solid solution was prepared by nitrate sol–gel method, and a series of catalysts with different PdO loading were prepared using impregnation method. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, Raman, CO-TPR, CO₂- and O₂-TPD techniques. The PdO is highly dispersed on the surface of the solid solution when the loading is lower than 0.5 wt.%. As PdO loading increases to 2 wt.%, it begins to form the crystalline structure. CO₂-TPD profiles show that the CO adsorbed on highly dispersed PdO is more easily oxidized to CO₂ than that adsorbed on crystalline structure and O₂-TPD results indicate that it is more difficult to decompose for highly dispersed PdO than that for crystalline structure. CO-TPR profiles show that the highly dispersed PdO is easily reduced. Catalytic activities of these catalysts for CO and CH₄ oxidation indicate that both the highly dispersed and crystalline PdO are the active site for CO oxidation, while the crystalline structure is the active site for CH₄ oxidation.