In this research, nanotube arrays of Ce0.8Pr0.2O2 were synthesized on a monolith cordierite honeycomb by the low temperature hydrothermal method. Pre-synthesized ZnO nano-rods on cordierite act as a hard template for Ce0.8Pr0.2O2 deposition. The formation of Ce0.8Pr0.2O2 nanotube arrays was characterized by XRD, selective chemical leaching, BET, and FESEM. The calculated surface area of Ce0.8Pr0.2O2 nanotube arrays was 80 m2/g. The external diameter and the wall thickness of Ce0.8Pr0.2O2 nanotube arrays were 250 and 100 nm, respectively. In addition, Ce0.8Pr0.2O2 nanotube had a length of about 1 μm. Pd decorated nanotube arrays catalyst present a lower light-off temperature and a higher thermal stability than a commercial catalyst in CO conversion catalyst test. Thermal stability of this catalyst is 10 times more than the commercial catalyst at 200 °C. The excellent catalyst performance of Ce0.8Pr0.2O2 nanotube arrays can be attributed to the presence of praseodymium, a high surface area, and a thick wall of Ce0.8Pr0.2O2 nanotubes arrays.
