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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
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Synthesis and Testing of Supported Pt-Cu Solid Solution Nanoparticle Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation
Published on: July 18, 2017
Fine-Tuning the Coordination Structure and Identifying Pt1-Ov-Ce as the Active Site for Selective Hydrogenations over
Yujing Ren1,2, Hui-Min Yan3, Leilei Zhang1
1State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) show promise in selective hydrogenation. This study reveals how tuning the coordination structure of platinum single atoms on ceria (Pt1/CeO2) enhances catalytic activity and selectivity via oxygen vacancies.
Area of Science:
- Heterogeneous catalysis
- Materials science
- Surface chemistry
Background:
- Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer high efficiency in selective hydrogenation reactions.
- Understanding the active site structure and reaction mechanisms in SACs is crucial but challenging.
- The interplay between metal atoms and support materials significantly influences catalytic performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the coordination structure of Pt1/CeO2 single-atom catalysts and their activity in selective hydrogenation.
- To elucidate the reaction mechanism and the role of oxygen vacancies in the catalytic process.
- To establish design principles for enhancing SACs' performance in selective hydrogenation.
Main Methods:
- Rapid thermal treatment (RTT) to tune the coordination structure of Pt1/CeO2.
- Quasi *in situ* spectroscopic characterizations to monitor structural evolution.
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to understand the reaction mechanism and active sites.
Main Results:
- A linear correlation was established between Pt-O coordination number, electronic structure, and catalytic activity.
- The formation of Pt1-Ov-Ce active sites via RTT at 600 °C promotes preferential adsorption and charge transfer.
- The interfacial Pt1-Ov-Ce sites exhibited 2.4-15.7 times higher activity compared to peripheral oxygen vacancies.
Conclusions:
- The coordination structure of SACs dictates catalytic activity and selectivity.
- A cooperative mechanism involving Pt single atoms and interfacial oxygen vacancies drives selective hydrogenation.
- This study provides insights for designing advanced SACs to overcome activity-selectivity trade-offs.
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