Design of Ag-CeO2/SiO2catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol: Control of Ag-CeO2interfacial interaction

Three Ag-CeO2/SiO2catalysts were prepared by different methods, namely, sequential impregnation, co-impregnation and impregnation of pre-reduced CeO2/SiO2and are tested in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol. The order of introduction of silver and ceria precursors is found to influence the catalytic activity that increases in the order of preparation method: sequential impregnation < co-impregnation < impregnation of pre-reduced CeO2/SiO2. Results of TPR-H2, TEM HR, XPS and Raman characterizations show the best interfacial Ag-CeO2interaction and highest defectiveness of CeO2nanoparticles in the catalyst prepared by impregnation of pre-reduced CeO2/SiO2. A correlation between Ag-CeO2interaction and catalytic activity is found in the series of Ag-CeO2/SiO2catalysts depending on the preparation method. Enhanced Ag-CeO2interfacial interaction leads to increased activity in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol.