Enhancement of the CO oxidation reaction: Impact of the precursor addition sequence on the synthesis of Au-Co3O4/Al2O3 catalysts

Abstract

AbstractIn the present work, it is demonstrated that a synergistic effect on the CO oxidation reaction can be achieved depending on the cobalt loading and deposition order of metal precursors employed in the synthesis of Au-Co3O4/Al2O3 catalysts by the deposition precipitation with urea method. The atomic arrangement of Au and Co3O4 exerts an important influence on the catalytic activity. Intermediate reaction species in the studied systems were identified through DRIFTS spectroscopy, which provided insights into the reaction mechanism. The formation of Au0 and Auδ− as active sites for CO oxidation, along with mono- and bidentate bicarbonate ligands as active reaction intermediates, was elucidated. Graphical Abstract