Cu-Ce Dual-Atom Sites Embedded in Zeolites Boost Resistance to Impurity Interference for Environmental Catalysis

Biodiesel, a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels, plays a vital role in decarbonizing transportation, with global production exceeding 40 million tons annually. However, its widespread use introduces elevated phosphorus and metal cations into vehicle exhaust, severely deactivating Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts for NO_X reduction through pore blockage, framework degradation, and Cu sites loss. We present a Cu-Ce dual-atom catalyst embedded in SSZ-13 that maintains high performance in ammonia-selective catalytic reduction under phosphorus-rich conditions. Ce species, precisely positioned in eight-membered rings, displace P-sensitive [ZCu²⁺OH]⁺ sites, enriching the catalyst with P-tolerant Z₂Cu²⁺ species in six-membered rings. Concurrent Ce─P interactions restore the electronic environment of Cu sites, enhancing NH₃/NO adsorption and redox cycling. This design sustains 90% NO_X conversion and 100% N₂ selectivity at 210 °C, even after phosphorus exposure. The strategy is broadly applicable to impurity-sensitive environmental reactions, including NH₃ oxidation and the coupled removal of NO_X with VOCs, offering a practical pathway to durable, poison-resistant catalysts for clean and sustainable mobility.