High-performance CeO2/halloysite hierarchical catalysts with promotional redox property and acidity for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3

•CeO2/HAT owns enhanced oxygen vacancies and Brønsted acidity due to defect-riched nano-ceria and Al-OH riched HAT.•CeO2/HAT inhibits NH3 over-oxidation via an occupation/release of oxygen vacancies (vo) and hydroxyls (–OH).•Both Eley-Rideal and Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanisms exist in the NH3-SCR reaction over CeO2/HAT.•CeO2/HAT has renewable activity after SO2/H2O treatment as Brønsted acidity increasing via CeO2 sulfuration.