Gold supported on mesoporous titania thin films for application in microstructured reactors in low-temperature water-gas shift reaction

Au (1 wt.%)/TO(2) catalytic thin films were prepared on a surface-modified titanium substrate for application in a water-gas shift (WGS) microstructured reactor. Au-containing mesoporous titania films were synthesized using Pluronic 127 surfactant as a structure directing agent and titanium tetrabutoxide as titania source. Colloidal gold nanoparticles of 4 nm diameter were added to the synthesis sol prior to spin-coating. The resulting thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, ethanol adsorption-desorption isotherms and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Catalytic activity and selectivity were measured for the WGS reaction at temperatures between 220 and 290 degrees C. The reaction rate measured at CO conversions of below 10% was similar to that reported for gold supported on mesoporous titania and on ceria modified mesoporous titania pelletized catalysts prepared via deposition-precipitation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.