Unlocking High-Throughput Plasma-Catalytic Low-Temperature Oxidation of n-Hexane over Single-Atom Ag₁/MnO₂ Catalysts

The total oxidation of n-hexane, a hazardous volatile organic compound (VOC) emitted by the pharmaceutical industry, presents a significant environmental challenge due to limited catalyst activity at low temperatures and poor stability at high temperatures. Here, we present a novel approach that overcomes these limitations by employing single-atom Ag₁/MnO₂ catalysts coupled with nonthermal plasma (NTP). This strategy achieves exceptional performance in n-hexane oxidation at low temperatures, demonstrating 96.3% n-hexane removal and an energy yield of 74.1 g kW h^-1 with negligible byproduct formation (O₃ < 5 ppm, NO < 20 ppm). In situ characterization of the plasma-catalytic system coupled with theoretical calculations revealed a synergistic mechanism for n-hexane oxidation. Reactive species generated by the NTP initiate the breakdown of n-hexane into smaller fragments. These fragments are then preferentially adsorbed onto the atomic Ag sites due to their favorable energetics, facilitating their subsequent oxidation. The incorporation of single Ag atoms not only enhances the selective adsorption of these NTP-generated intermediates but also accelerates the reaction kinetics. This work demonstrates the potential of single-atom catalysts coupled with NTP for efficient and environmentally friendly removal of VOCs at low temperatures. This approach offers a promising strategy for mitigating industrial air pollution and achieving cleaner air quality.