Microfibrous structured Au/Co3O4/Al-fiber catalyst to be used for the combustion of ethylene (C2H4) traces was developed by hydrothermal growth of Co(OH)2 nanoarrays onto thin-sheets of Al-fiber followed by solvent-assisted incipient wetness impregnation of Au NPs. Such catalyst supported on the Co(OH)2/Al-fiber nanoarrays with different morphology exhibits different C2H4 conversion under the same combustion reaction conditions. Notably, the Au/Co3O4/Al-100 of low Au content provides unique combination of high low-temperature activity and high throughput. It was found that the strong Au-Co3O4 interactions over the Au/Co3O4/Al-100 catalyst prepared at 100 °C under hydrothermal conditions facilitate oxygen adsorption and activation, thereby enhancing the low-temperature catalytic activity for ethylene combustion.
