Preferential oxidation of CO in excess H 2 over CuO/CeO 2 catalysts: Performance as a function of the copper coverage and exposed face present in the CeO 2 support

•CuO/CeO2 is more selective in CO-PROX if CeO2 support has cube-shaped nanoparticles.•Nanocube-based CuO/CeO2 retains Cu+ carbonyls to higher T under CO-PROX reaction.•Effect is due to stabilization of Cu against reduction to Cu0.•XRD and EPR indicate different CuO growth mode on CeO2 nanocubes.•DFT evidences stronger interaction of CuO on (001) than on (111) CeO2 surface.