Cerium Doping Effect in 3DOM Perovskite-Type La_2-xCe_xCoNiO₆ Catalysts for Boosting Soot Oxidation

Herein, we present an in-depth investigation into the enhancement of catalytic soot oxidation through cerium-doped three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) La-Co-Ni-based perovskites synthesized with the colloidal crystal template (CCT) method. The 3DOM structure significantly contributes to the accessibility and interaction efficiency between soot and catalyst. Based on the results of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption-desorption measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), temperature-programmed oxidation of NO (NO-TPO), temperature-programmed reduction of H-2 (H-2-TPR), in situ infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (In-situ DRIFTS), and temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) reactions, the role of cerium doping in modifying the structural and catalytic properties of 3DOM perovskite-type La2-xCexCoNiO6 catalysts was investigated systematically. The optimized cerium doping ratio in La2-xCexCoNiO6 catalysts can improve the microenvironment for efficient soot-catalyst contact, enhancing the catalytic activity of soot oxidation. Among the catalysts, the 3DOM La0.8Ce1.2CoNiO6 catalyst shows the highest catalytic activity for soot oxidation, whose T-10, T-50, and T-90 values are 306 degrees C, 356 degrees C, and 402 degrees C, respectively. The mechanism of the cerium doping effect for boosting soot oxidation is proposed: The doping of Ce ions can increase the surface oxygen species, which is the main active species for promoting the key step of NO oxidation to NO2 in catalyzing soot oxidation. This research provides a new strategy to develop high-efficient non-noble metal catalysts for soot oxidation in pollution control and sustainable environmental practices.