The composite oxides xAg/Co_(0.93)Ce_(0.07)(x=Ag/(Co+Ce) molar ratio),intended for use as high performance catalytic materials,were successfully prepared via citric acid complexation.The effects of silver on the performance of these substances during soot combustion were subsequently investigated.Under O_2,the 0.3Ag/Co_(0.93)Ce_(0.07) catalyst resulted in the lowest ignition temperature,T_(10),of197 ℃,while the minimum light-off temperature was obtained from both 0.2Ag/Co_(0.93)Ce_(0.07) and0.3Ag/Co_(0.93)Ce_(0.07) in the NO_x atmosphere.These materials were also characterized by various techniques,including H_2,soot and NO_x temperature programmed reduction,X-ray diffraction,and electron paramagnetic resonance,Raman,X-ray photoelectron,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses.The results demonstrated that silver significantly alters the catalytic behavior under both O_2 and NO_x,even though the lattice structure of the mixed oxide is not affected.Surface silver oxides generated under the O_2 atmosphere favor soot combustion by participating in the redox cycles between soot and the silver oxide,whereas the AgNO_3 that forms in a NO_x-rich atmosphere facilitates soot abatement at a lower temperature.The inferior activity of AgNO_3 relative to that of Ag_2O results in the different catalytic performance in the presence of NO_x or O_2.