Low quantity of Pt loaded onto CeCoOx nanoboxes: Surface–rich reactive oxygen species for catalytic oxidation of toluene

An optimized oxygen activity of catalysts can facilitate oxidation of volatile organic compounds. This work shows the first construction of Ce–Co oxide thin–walled nanoboxes. Bulk–phase lattice oxygen is activated by metal–metal interactions. The subsequent uniform dispersion of low loaded Pt nanoparticles further enhances the surface–adsorbed oxygen content, and creates an oxygen–rich reaction interface. Competitive adsorption of water vapor was also inhibited, and complete catalytic oxidation of toluene was achieved at low temperature (T 90 =140 °C). A diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier–transform spectroscopy probe was used to investigate the adsorption–catalytic process and the possible synergistic catalytic mechanism (Langmuir–Hinshelwood and Mars–van Krevelen). This work provides a strategy for improving the catalyt Crystal structure ic oxidation performance of nanocatalysts for volatile organic compounds by increasing the catalytic oxygen activity.