Fe doped CeO2 nanosheets for catalytic oxidation of 1,2-dichloroethane: Effect of preparation method

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) nano-structured Ce1−xFexO2 mixed oxides (Fe doped CeO2 nanosheets) were synthesized by hydrothermal (HT), cold co-precipitation (CP) and solvothermal (ST) methods, and evaluated in total oxidation of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE). Fe-doped CeO2 catalysts were characterized by SEM, XRD, EPR, Raman and H2-TPR and the results indicated that 5Fe-CeO2-ST had the largest concentration of oxygen vacancies and surface active oxygen (such as O22− and O2−), meanwhile exhibited a better catalytic activity and lower selectivity of polychlorohydrocarbons (PCHs) by-products. Catalytic activities and stabilities of Fe-CeO2-ST catalysts for DCE oxidation were found to slightly increase with the increase of Fe content, however, the enhancement of more than 15% Fe doping was almost negligible, which was probably related to the disappearing of the sheet-like morphology. Moreover, the stability of 15Fe-CeO2-ST catalyst can be further improved via the loading of VOx or RuO2, more importantly, the formation of PCHs by-products also was significantly inhibited.