Reaction-Specific Interface Design in Ag- and/or Mn-Doped CuO-CeO₂ Catalysts for CO Oxidation and Soot Combustion

Purposeful design of catalytically active interfaces is a key to high-performance, cost-effective, and ecofriendly catalysts, ensuring sustainable energy conversion and cleaner fuel utilization in various reactions. Here, the formation of interfaces providing high performance in CO oxidation and soot combustion reactions is considered for a series of Ag- and/or Mn-doped CuO-CeO2 catalysts prepared by solvothermal synthesis in the presence of propionic acid and without it. Propionic acid addition enhances the CuO dispersion and affects the morphology of the resulting mixed oxides. The presence of Cu and/or Mn increases the degree of disorder and facilitates the formation of oxygen vacancies. In CO oxidation, the perimeter length at the CuO/CeO2 boundary plays a decisive role to result in T50% of 83 °C. In soot combustion, the Tmax is changed in a row Ag/CuCeMnOx < Ag/CuCeOx < CuCeMnOx < CuCeOx independently of the preparation method used, with the Ag/CuCeMnOx_st sample featuring Tmax of 336 °C. The structures of interfaces formed by the species of catalyst components of different sizes, which are active in CO oxidation or soot combustion, are discussed. The results obtained can be used in designing interfaces in new catalysts for environmental applications.