Electrospun Au/CeO2 nanofibers: A highly accessible low-pressure drop catalyst for preferential CO oxidation

[Display omitted] •CeO2 nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning to be used as catalytic supports.•Fiber-shaped Au/CeO2 solids have maximum reactant access at very low pressure drop.•Fiber-supported Au nanoparticles synthesized in situ are active and stable. Au/CeO2 catalysts shaped as nanofibers were obtained by supporting Au nanoparticles (ca. 3nm) on CeO2 nanofibers of around 200nm diameter. The CeO2 support was prepared by calcining electrospun polymer nanocomposite fibers with a high Ce content; then gold nanoparticles were either synthesized in situ or deposited from a suspension. The prepared catalysts were used in the preferential oxidation of CO in a hydrogen-rich stream. The catalysts prepared by deposition of preformed gold nanoparticles were less stable and underwent sintering due to a weaker nanoparticle–support interaction. In contrast, the catalysts with Au nanoparticles synthesized in situ were active (90% conversion and 46% selectivity) and stable. The fiber-shaped catalyst was able to give maximum reactant access at a much lower pressure drop than catalyst in powder form.