Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2026, Vol. 91: 176-191.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65221-7

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Low CeO2 content with superior performance: In-situ spectroscopic insights into multicomponent CuFeCe/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for mild-temperature reverse water-gas shift

Deng Mina,b, Sebastian Cisnerosa,*(), Abdallah I. M. Rabeec,d, Thanh Huyen Vuongc, Jiadong Xiaoe, Yaoyuan Zhangf, Rongsheng Caig, Feng Shia,*(), Jabor Rabeaha,c,*()   

  1. a State Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Catalysis and Carbon Dioxide Utilization, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
    b University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    c Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse, Rostock 18059, Germany
    d Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El-Minia 61519, Egypt
    e School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
    f Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
    g State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
  • Received:2026-04-08 Accepted:2026-06-06 Online:2026-12-18 Published:2026-10-13
  • Supported by:
    Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Science(XDB1500102);Project of Gansu Province-China(24ZD13FA002)

Abstract:

CO is a key precursor for high-value-added chemicals, and its production via the reverse water-gas shift reaction is crucial for carbon-neutral processes. Herein, we report on a multicomponent low Ce-containing CuFeCe/γ-Al2O3 catalyst (actual loading Cu=0.84 wt%, Fe=0.46 wt% and Ce=4.5 wt%) which achieves CO formation rate of ca. 47 mmol gcat-1 h-1 with > 99% selectivity at 380 °C, surpassing the performance of bulk CeO2-based catalysts under similar conditions. Using in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, in-situ electron paramagnetic resonance and ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the superior activity arises from the coexistence of Cu single sites and small Cu0 clusters, stabilized by FeOx clusters and neighboring O-vacancies (Ov) associated with highly dispersed CeOx nanoparticles on γ-Al2O3. Cu single sites vicinal to Ce3+ rapidly shuttle between Cu2+ and Cu+, activating CO2 while Cu0 clusters facilitate H2 dissociation. In addition to direct CO2 activation, H-assistance pathway via a bridged formate intermediate contributes to CO formation, preferentially at the interfaces shared by Cu, Fe, and Ce species. Compared to monometallic and bimetallic analogs, the trimetallic catalyst exhibits markedly higher activity. Long-term tests (115 h) reveal reversible re-activation cycles, demonstrating the catalyst’s robustness under dynamic operating conditions.

Key words: Reverse water-gas shift reaction, Carbon dioxide, Low Ce-containing catalyst, In-situ spectroscopy characterization, Oxygen vacancies, Bridged formate