Electrosynthesis of Ce-Doped Cu Mesh Catalyst for Enhanced CO Oxidation

Carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation is crucial for pollutant removal and hydrogen purification. In recent years, copper–cerium (Cu–Ce)-mixed oxide catalysts have attracted significant attention due to their excellent activity and stability in CO oxidation. This study presents an innovative, environmentally friendly electrosynthesis method for producing stable, structured Cu–Ce catalysts in mesh form. This approach addresses the limitations of traditional pellet catalysts, such as fragility and poor thermal conductivity. The results demonstrated that incorporating cerium (Ce) enhanced the catalytic activity for CO oxidation threefold. A series of in situ characterizations revealed that the introduction of Ce led to the formation of a Cu–Ce mixed oxide solid solution, which significantly improved catalytic performance. Furthermore, higher pretreatment temperatures facilitated the decomposition of Ce compounds (nitrate and hydroxide), which promotes the formation of Cu–Ce solid solutions and increases the concentration of active intermediate species (Cu + ‒CO) during the reaction. This process ultimately enhanced the catalyst’s activity.