Single-atom Zr promoter boosts oxygen activation on ceria-supported Pt catalysts
Journal
Nature Communications
Journal Volume
16
Journal Issue
1
Start Page
7274
ISSN
2041-1723
Date Issued
2025-08-07
Author(s)
Huang, Weixin
Xu, Hao
Deng, Yang
Lin, Shih-Wei
Pham, Hien N.
Zhang, Rui
Jiang, Dong
Zhang, Zihao
DeLaRiva, Andrew
Feng, Shuxuan
Li, Yixiao
Zhang, Xinrui
Datye, Abhaya K.
Wang, Yong
Abstract
Activation of surface lattice oxygen and chemisorbed oxygen on catalyst surfaces constitutes a pivotal step in heterogeneous oxidative catalysis. Herein, we report a strategy for enhancing oxygen activation by rational design of catalysts with single-atom promoters. Single-site Zr species in CeO2 (Zr1-CeO2) are synthesized using the atom-trapping method. The Zr1-CeO2-supported Pt catalyst exhibits enhanced catalytic performance over the CeO2-supported Pt catalyst in the oxidation of CO, C3H8, and C3H6, achieving significantly lower T50 values (temperature required to reach 50% conversion). This enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the formation of an asymmetric Zr1-O-Pt1 structure, which favors the activation of the adjacent surface lattice oxygen and chemisorbed molecular oxygen. This work exemplifies that incorporating single-site atoms into oxide support facilitates oxygen activation, providing new insights into the role of atomically dispersed promoters in heterogeneous catalysis.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
journal article