Ce1−xFexVO4 with Improved Activity for Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3

A series of Ce1−xFexVO4 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1) catalysts prepared by modified hydrothermal synthesis were used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with NH3. Among them, Ce0.5Fe0.5VO4 showed the highest catalytic activity. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction using H2 (H2-TPR), and temperature-programmed desorption of NH3 (NH3-TPD). The results indicated the formation of Ce-Fe-V-O solid solutions. The average oxidation states (AOS) of Ce, Fe, V, and O atoms changed obviously with the incorporation of Fe3+ into CeVO4, and the acidity of Ce0.5Fe0.5VO4 differs from that of CeVO4 and FeVO4. The presence of more acid sites and a sharp increase in active oxygen species in Ce0.5Fe0.5VO4 effectively improved the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) activity.