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Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Tuning the Acidity of Pt/ CNTs Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Diphenyl Ether
Published on: August 17, 2019
Distinct Role of Surface Hydroxyls in Single-Atom Pt1/CeO2 Catalyst for Room-Temperature Formaldehyde Oxidation:
Lina Zhang1,2, Qianqian Bao3, Bangjie Zhang1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
A novel single-atom platinum catalyst on cerium dioxide efficiently oxidizes formaldehyde (HCHO) at room temperature. This breakthrough in indoor air purification utilizes a unique lattice hydroxyl site for complete HCHO removal.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Environmental Chemistry
Background:
- Formaldehyde (HCHO) poses significant risks to indoor air quality.
- Developing efficient catalysts for room-temperature HCHO oxidation is crucial for effective air purification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the catalytic activity of single-atom platinum on cerium dioxide (Pt1/CeO2) for room-temperature formaldehyde oxidation.
- To elucidate the reaction mechanism and identify key active sites.
Main Methods:
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
- In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments.
- Synthesis of single-atom Pt1/CeO2 catalysts.
Main Results:
- The Pt1/CeO2 catalyst demonstrated remarkable activity, achieving complete HCHO removal at 288 K.
- A specific active lattice hydroxyl site (O-lattice-H) near Pt2+ on CeO2 was identified as crucial.
- The mechanism involves HCHO oxidation to formate and subsequent oxidation to CO2, distinct from water cofeeding.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the critical role of lattice hydroxyls generated via steam treatment in Pt-catalyzed HCHO oxidation.
- This finding offers a new strategy for designing highly atom-efficient supported Pt catalysts for indoor air purification.
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