Core-Sheath Pt-CeO 2 /Mesoporous SiO 2 Electrospun Nanofibers as Catalysts for the Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction

One-dimensional (1D) core-sheath nanofibers, platinum (Pt)-loaded ceria (CeO 2 ) sheath on mesoporous silica (SiO 2 ) core were fabricated, characterized, and used as catalysts for the reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS). CeO 2 nanofibers (NFs) were first prepared by electrospinning (ES), and then Pt nanoparticles were loaded on the CeO 2 NFs using two different deposition methods: wet impregnation and solvothermal. A mesoporous SiO 2 sheath layer was then deposited by sol-gel process. The phase composition, structural, and morphological properties of synthesized materials were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption method, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma—optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis, and CO 2 temperature programmed desorption (CO 2 -TPD). The results of these characterization techniques revealed that the core-sheath NFs with a core diameter between 100 and 300 nm and a sheath thickness of about 40–100 nm with a Pt loading of around 0.5 wt.% were successfully obtained. The impregnated catalyst, Pt-CeO 2 NF@mesoporous SiO 2 , showed the best catalytic performance with a CO 2 conversion of 8.9% at 350 °C, as compared to the sample prepared by the Solvothermal method. More than 99% selectivity of CO was achieved for all core-sheath NF-catalysts.