Development of nonprecious metal-based catalysts highly active for complete oxidation of CH₄ at a temperature ≤600 °C is significant for removing unburned CH₄ at exhaust of engines of vehicles using natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. CeO₂ is active for complete oxidation of CH₄. Co₃O₄ has been identified as a promising catalyst for this reaction. A Co₃O₄/CeO₂ nanocomposite catalyst consisting of ceria nanorods supported on Co₃O₄ nanoparticles was prepared through a modified deposition precipitation method. The Co₃O₄/CeO₂ nanocomposite exhibits high activity for complete oxidation of methane with an apparent activation energy of 43.9 kJ/mol, which is obviously lower than 95.1 kJ/mol of pure CeO₂ and 89.7 kJ/mol of pure Co₃O₄, suggesting a synergetic effect between Co₃O₄ and CeO₂. Surface of the Co₃O₄/CeO₂ nanocomposite during complete oxidation of CH₄ in the temperature range of 200–500 °C and potential stable intermediate of this catalysis were identified with ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS).

对于在≤600°C的温度下CH ₄完全氧化具有高活性的非贵金属基催化剂的开发，对于去除使用天然气或液化石油气的汽车发动机排气中未燃烧的CH _4而言具有重要意义。CeO ₂对CH _4的完全氧化具有活性。Co ₃ O ₄被确定为该反应的有前途的催化剂。通过改进的沉积沉淀法制备了由负载在Co ₃ O ₄纳米颗粒上的二氧化铈纳米棒组成的Co ₃ O ₄ / CeO ₂纳米复合催化剂。钴₃ O₄ / CeO ₂纳米复合材料对甲烷的完全氧化具有很高的活性，其表观活化能为43.9 kJ / mol，明显低于纯CeO _2的95.1 kJ / mol和纯Co ₃ O _4的89.7 kJ / mol ，表明Co ₃ O ₄与CeO ₂之间有协同作用。通过环境压力X射线光电子能谱（AP-XPS）可以确定在200–500°C的温度范围内CH ₄完全氧化期间Co ₃ O ₄ / CeO ₂纳米复合材料的表面以及该催化的潜在稳定中间产物。