Engineering Surface Properties of CuO/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 Catalysts for Efficient Low-Temperature Toluene Oxidation

The development of superior low-temperature catalytic performance and inexpensive catalysts for the removal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is crucial their industrial application. Herein, CuO/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 calcinated at different temperatures (Cu/CZ-X, X represented calcination temperature) were prepared used to eliminate toluene. It can be found that Cu/CZ-550 presented highest activity, with lowest temperature (220 °C) 50% conversion toluene, normalized reaction rate (3.1 × 10−5 mol·g−1·s−1 180 apparent activation energy value (86.3 ± 4.7 kJ·mol−1). Systematically, surface properties analysis results showed optimum redox property, abundant oxygen vacancies, plentiful Ce3+ species over associated strong interaction between Cu support could significantly favor adsorption thus resulting in its performance.