Pure ceria catalysts were prepared by a facile modified homogeneous co-precipitation method, and their catalytic performance was evaluated in the soot oxidation reaction. The structure and textural properties of the synthesized catalysts were characterized via XRD, N 2 adsorption/desorption, TG-DSC-MS, H 2 -TPR, FE-SEM, HR-TEM and XPS techniques. It is shown that CeO 2 samples prepared by the improved co-precipitation method exhibit obviously better catalytic activity than those prepared by the conventional co-precipitation method. The CeO 2 -CP4-F sample shows the best activity, for which the peak temperature, T p , values of soot combustion are about 465°C in O 2 stream gas and 430°C in a NO/O 2 stream under soot/catalyst "loose contact" conditions. Moreover, after high temperature aging, the activity of CeO 2 -CP4-A becomes even better, for which the T p value of soot combustion is lowered to 445°C in O 2 air gas. The catalytic activity is not well associated with the physicochemical properties of BET surface area, particle size and reducibility at low temperatures. The number of lattice oxygen and its mobility in the series of CeO 2 may be the crucial factor to decide the overall catalytic performance. According to the HRTEM result, the excellent migration of lattice oxygen may result from the preferential exposure of more-reactive planes, which may be the essential reason to explain the good performance of CeO 2 catalysts in soot oxidation.

The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to fuels and chemicals is an opportunity for sustainable energy research that can realize both renewable energy storage and negative carbon cycle feedback. However, the selective generation of multicarbon products is challenging because of the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and protonation of the reacting adsorbate. Copper-based materials have been the most commonly studied catalysts for CO2 electroreduction due to their ability to produce a substantial amount of C2 products. Here, we report that a nanodendrite configuration can improve the electrocatalytic performance of Cu catalysts, especially multicarbon product formation, while suppressing HER and methane production. The abundant conductive networks derived from the fractal copper dendritic structures with a high electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) facilitate electron transport and mass transfer, leading to superior kinetics for the formation of multicarbon products from CO2 electroreduction. As a result, approximately 70–120% higher ethylene and 60–220% higher C3 (n-PrOH and propanal) yields with lower onset potentials were produced over Cu nanodendrites compared to the initial Cu particles. This work opens an avenue for promoting CO2 electrochemical reduction to multicarbon products by catalyst configuration modulation.

Silver‐based electrocatalysts are active in catalyzing electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO. We herein report synthesis of capping ligand‐free Ag cubes and octahedra by morphology‐preserved CO reduction from corresponding Ag2O counterparts and their performance in electrochemical reduction of CO2. Ag cubes are much more active than Ag octahedra and exhibit a stable CO formation rate as high as 142.4 mmolCO gcat−1 h−1 at −0.95 V (vs. RHE). Ag films transiently formed on Ag2O crystals during CO2 electroreduction were observed more active than Ag crystals, revealing a promoting effect of Ag2O substrate on electrocatalytic activity of Ag film. These results clearly identify a facet sensitivity of silver electrocatalysts and highlight the importance of surface cleanness of Ag colloids as efficient electrocatalysts.