Catalytic oxidation of n-hexane promoted by Ce1-xCuxO2 catalysts prepared by one-step polymeric precursor method

Abstract Ceria-supported copper catalysts (Ce1−xCuxO2, with x (mol) = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.10) were prepared in one step through the polymeric precursor method. The textural properties of the catalysts were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, N2-physisorption (BET surface area), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), UV–visible diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopies and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). In a previous study ceria-supported copper catalysts were found to be efficient in the preferential oxidation of CO. In this study, we extended the catalytic application of Ce1−xCuxO2 systems to n-hexane oxidation and it was verified tha…