Enhanced CeO2-supported Pt catalyst for water-gas shift reaction

Sodium-promoted, CeO2-supported, Pt catalyst were synthesized and investigated for water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. The ceria supports were synthesized by conventional precipitation method. The effect of the basic aqueous solutions used in the preparation procedure on the nature of Pt/CeO2 catalyst was examined by physical and chemical characterization analyses. The catalytic activity for the WGS reaction was observed. In the Pt/CeO2 catalyst prepared by NaOH, the presence of sodium (1.64 wt.%) on the support modified the base and electronic properties and consequently enhanced the catalytic activity of Pt/CeO2. Based on temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) analyses, we concluded that sodium introduced through the ceria preparation procedure played an important role in the WGS reaction as a promoter to induce the fast build-up of surface intermediates of the WGS reaction and also as an electron donor to modify the adsorption strength between CO and Pt. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.