A strawsheave-like metal organic framework Ce-BTC derivative containing high specific surface area for improving the catalytic activity of CO oxidation reaction

A metal organic framework Ce-BTC derivative with a special morphology and a large surface area was prepared by a simple method. Several analytical tools such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), N2 adsorption-desorption (BET), H2 temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), ultraviolet visible diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV-Vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) and elemental analysis (EA) have been used to characterize the samples. It is found that Ce-BTC calcined with O2 at 250 °C (Ce-BTC250) maintains the special strawsheave-like structure, and the surface area rapidly increases from 42 m2 g-1 to 648 m2 g-1. Moreover, the prepared strawsheave-like Ce-BTC250 exhibited excellent catalytic activity, long-term stability and water resistance. Further studies have shown that the MOF structure of Ce-BTC250 was gradually converted to carbon-free CeO2 during the catalytic reaction. Interestingly, the catalyst after the reaction still has a large surface area (124 m2 g-1) and the strawsheave-like morphology. The improved catalytic activities may be due to the formation of porous and large surface area of strawsheave-like Ce-BTC derivative, which provided more active sites and oxygen vacancy for CO oxidation. This work provides a novel sight for preparing high efficient carbon-free derivative with large surface area by controlling synthesis and reaction conditions of Ce based MOF.