LAUSR

Abstract Ceria nanorods arrays (HT-CeO2) were successfully synthesized by using mesostructured silica SBA-15 as hard template. The pore channel of the hard template SBA-15 could stabilize the CeO2 particles, prevent sintering during the calcination process by the high temperature and shape their rodlike morphology. HT-CeO2 was obtained by removing the silica matrix with diluted HF washing. Consequently, HT-CeO2 nanorods have a significant improvement in the textural properties with a higher surface area and total pore volume than the reference sample synthesized in the absence of template. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the only crystalline phase present in this material was CeO2 with fluorite structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that the HT-CeO2 is mainly constituted by agglomerates of nanorods. EDX microanalysis confirms the efficient removal of silicon template. The Ni/HT-CeO2 is more selective to the thiophene (aromatic sulfur compounds) as large amount of olefin coexisting as compared with Ni/SBA-15. The adsorption capacity of 5 wt% Ni/HT-CeO2 is decreased only by 4% due to 10 vol.% olefin addition.