LAUSR

In this paper, a series of mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) silica supported CuO–CeO2 catalysts (CuO–CeO2/MCF) with various total metal loadings (10–40 wt%) and various Cu/Ce ratios (Cu/Ce = 1/9, 2/8, and 3/7 wt/wt) were prepared by using a co-impregnation method. Their physicochemical properties and catalytic activity were investigated by various techniques including XRD, TEM, N2 adsorption–desorption, Raman, XPS, H2-TPR, CO-TPD, and a low-temperature CO oxidation reaction test. The results show that the catalyst with a bimetallic loading of 30 wt% and Cu/Ce ratio of 2 : 8 (wt/wt) has the highest catalytic activity, which can be attributed to the largest amount of finely dispersed Cu species strongly interacting with CeO2, the highest concentrations of oxygen vacancies and active lattice oxygen, and the largest amount of Cu+ (the better CO adsorption sites).