Efficient CO Oxidation by Co/Ta₂O₅ Prepared by Deposition–Precipitation with Urea

CO oxidation at mild condition is significant for industrial process but still challenging nowadays, especially for the non-noble metal catalysts. The preparation method significant affect the catalytic activity of the catalyst. Comparing with cobalt supported on tantalum oxide prepared by impregnation method, Co/Ta₂O₅ prepared by deposition–precipitation method with urea in this study has smaller particle size, higher specific surface area and better redox properties, and these features make the catalyst exhibit higher catalytic activity for CO oxidation at mild condition. 90% CO conversion was achieved at 130 ℃, and CO was fully converted at 150 ℃. The XPS and DRIFTs results show that Co/Ta₂O₅ has more oxygen vacancies, and the absorbed CO will react with oxygen. The study may provide a new thought for the preparation of catalysts with high activity at mild condition.