Cu-Mn-Ce mixed oxides catalysts for soot oxidation and their mechanistic chemistry

A series of flower-like CuxMnyCez mixed oxides catalysts for soot removal were prepared via a facile co-precipitation approach followed by calcination. The structural and surface properties of these catalysts were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, N-2 physisorption, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, oxygen temperature-programmed desorption and NO temperature-programmed oxidation. Superior soot oxidation performance was obtained over these ternary mixed oxides catalysts and the corresponding mechanism was explored. In particular, the Cu1Mn1Ce1 catalyst showed a remarkable improvement in soot oxidation activity in both NO + O-2 and O-2 atmospheres. The reusability and durability of these catalysts were assessed, and these materials showed high soot oxidation activity after the hydrothermal stability test.