In situ/operando spectroscopic studies of Cu-doped CeO2 on SiO2 derived from coal gangue for preferential CO oxidation

Transforming waste coal gangue into a high specific surface and porous catalyst support holds immense promise for addressing the utilization hurdles and environmental challenges. We present here an approach to extract the SiO 2 support from coal gangue with high specific surface area of up to 503 m 2 g −1 , applying it to develop the catalysts comprising two types of Cu sites, CeO 2 with abundant oxygen vacancies and SiO 2 support. The optimal catalyst with well-arranged active ingredients on the SiO 2 surface exhibits high CO conversion from 95 to 215 °C and satisfactory durability at 90 °C for 40 h without any deactivation in preferential CO oxidation . Experimental and spectroscopic mechanism studies support the reactant-induced stabilization of CeO 2 structure after adsorption of CO and O 2 molecules. Cu and CeO 2 interact synergistically to effectively promote CO oxidation within a wide operating temperature window. This approach complements the way of coal gangue utilization and expands the possibility of its applications for heterogeneous catalysis . • Extraction of SiO 2 from coal gangue with high specific surface area of 503 m 2 g −1 . • As-synthesized catalysts comprise Cu sites, CeO 2 with abundant O V and SiO 2 support. • Cu/CeO 2 -SiO 2 catalysts were investigated through in situ/operando spectroscopy. • Reactant-induced stabilization of CeO 2 structure after adsorption of CO and O 2 . • Ingredients interact to promote CO oxidation within wide temperature window.