The controlled preparation and performance of Fe, Co-modified porous ceria nanorods for the total oxidation of propane

Porous ceria nanorods modified with Fe or Co were prepared via a hydrothermal method. The structural properties, catalytic activities for the total oxidation of propane, and catalytic mechanisms of these materials were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, catalytic activity measurements and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Co-modified ceria exhibited the best catalytic activity during propane oxidation as well as enhanced reducibility due to the synergistic interactions between the Co and the CeO 2 support. Variations in the activating ability and reducibility of the catalysts resulted in the formation of distinctive intermediates during the catalytic process, and this explained the observed differences in catalytic performance.