The Formation of Mn-Ce Oxide Catalysts for CO Oxidation by Oxalate Route: The Role of Manganese Content

The Mn-Ce oxide catalysts active in the oxidation of CO were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), transition electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), and a differential dissolution technique. The Mn-Ce catalysts were prepared by thermal decomposition of oxalates by varying the Mn:Ce ratio. The nanocrystalline oxides with a fluorite structure and particle sizes of 4–6 nm were formed. The introduction of manganese led to a reduction of the oxide particle size, a decrease in the surface area, and the formation of a Mn(y)Ce(1−y)O(2−δ) solid solution. An increase in the manganese content resulted in the formation of manganese oxides such as Mn(2)O(3), Mn(3)O(4), and Mn(5)O(8). The catalytic activity as a function of the manganese content had a volcano-like shape. The best catalytic performance was exhibited by the catalyst containing ca. 50 at.% Mn due to the high specific surface area, the formation of the solid solution, and the maximum content of the solid solution.