Harnessing Defect-Induced Electron Transfer at Pt/h-BN Interfaces for Ultra-Deep Diesel Desulfurization

Defect engineering provides an effective route to tailor the electronic structure of metal-support interfaces for catalytic applications. Here we report a defect-rich Pt/h-BN-v catalyst obtained by selective acid etching of PtZn/h-BN, which introduces abundant vacancies and modulates electron transfer from B atoms in h-BN to Pt nanoparticles. XPS and ESR analysis reveal that this electron redistribution creates an electron-rich Pt surface capable of efficiently activating molecular oxygen to superoxide species. This structural and electronic modulation endows the catalyst with exceptional oxidative desulfurization (ODS) performance, achieving ultradeep removal of dibenzothiophene to below 10 ppm sulfur within 4 h under mild conditions. The catalyst also displays strong resistance to inhibition by aromatics and olefins, stable activity in real diesel, and excellent recyclability with facile regeneration. These results highlight defect-induced electron transfer at metal-support interfaces as a powerful strategy for designing advanced noble metal catalysts.