Understanding the roles of copper dopant and oxygen vacancy in promoting nitrogen oxides removal over iron-based catalyst surface: A collaborative experimental and first-principles study

In this work, we proposed a novel strategy of copper (Cu) doping to enhance the nitrogen oxides (NOx) removal efficiency of iron (Fe)-based catalysts at low temperature through a simple citric acid mixing method, which is critical for its practical application. The doping of Cu significantly improves the deNOx performance of Fe-based catalysts below 200 °C, and the optimal catalyst is (Cu0.22Fe1.78)1-δO3, which deNOx efficiency can reach 100% at 160-240 °C. From the macro aspects, the main reasons for the excellent catalytic activity of the (Cu0.22Fe1.78)1-δO3 catalyst are the large number of oxygen vacancies (Ovac), appropriate Fe3+ and Cu2+ contents, stronger surface acidity and redox ability. From the micro aspects, the Ovac plays a key role in enhancing molecular adsorption, oxidation, and the deNOx reaction over the Fe-based catalyst surface, which promoting order is CuOvac > Ovac > Cu. This work provides a new insight for the mechanism study of oxygen vacancy engineering and also accelerates the development of CuFe bimetal composite catalysts at low temperature.