The key surface species and oxygen vacancies in MnOx(0.4)-CeO2 toward repeated soot oxidation

Surface species and oxygen vacancies were studied in MnOx(0.4)-CeO2 toward repeated soot oxidation. MnOx(0.4)-CeO2 catalysts prepared by the citric acid complex method were repeatedly used in a 10% O-2/Ar gas flow and showed favorable activity and satisfactory durability toward soot oxidation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption/desorption, Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in situ visible/UV Raman characterization methods were utilized to investigate the structural features of fresh and reused catalysts. The irreversible conversion of high valence manganese species as well as the reduction of Frenkel-type oxygen vacancies and lattice oxygen could be clearly observed in the reused samples, which were associated with the slight deactivation. Spectators and participators were two existing forms of Frenkel-type oxygen vacancies. It was noteworthy that the participators almost fully regenerated after each reaction cycle, which ensured the ability to activate Ghat, in repeated soot oxidation process. Therefore, the catalysts maintained favorable activity and satisfactory durability, which was mainly because the relatively stable level of participators.