Novel method for insertion of Pt/CeZrO₂ nanoparticles into mesoporous SBA-16 using hydrothermal treatment

An investigation was performed to evaluate the possibility of using hydrothermal treatment for inserting Pt/CeZrO₂ nanoparticles into the mesopores of the previously reported SBA-16 mesoporous silica. The results showed that the Pt/CeZrO₂ nanoparticles were successfully inserted into the mesopores of SBA-16 by the hydrothermal treatment, and the highly ordered mesostructure of SBA-16 was retained after the insertion of the nanoparticles. The obtained material was used as a catalyst for the CO oxidation reaction. The catalytic activity and thermal stability of Pt/CeZrO₂, inserted via hydrothermal treatment, were higher than those of the mixture of Pt/CeZrO₂ and SBA-16. Specifically, the temperature at which 50% CO oxidation was achieved after the catalyst was annealed at 800 C was 290 C for the sample prepared via hydrothermal treatment at 140 C. This temperature at which 50% CO oxidation was achieved is significantly lower than 480 C required for the catalyst prepared via simple mixing.