An important factor for the water gas shift reaction activity of cu-loaded cubic Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ catalysts

The Cu loading of a cubic Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂-supported Cu catalyst was optimized for a single-stage water gas shift (WGS) reaction. The catalyst was prepared by a co-precipitation method, and the WGS reaction was performed at a gas hourly space velocity of 150,494 h⁻¹. The results revealed that an 80 wt% Cu-Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic performance and 100% CO₂ selectivity (X_CO = 27% at 240°C for 100 h). The high activity of 80 wt% Cu-Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ catalyst is attributed to the presence of abundant surface Cu atoms and the low activation energy of the resultant process.