ABSTRACT
Tailoring the interfaces between active metal centers and supporting materials is an efficient strategy to obtain a superior catalyst for a certain reaction. Herein, an active interface between Ru and CeO2 was identified and constructed by adjusting the morphology of CeO2 support, such as rods (R), cubes (C), and octahedra (O), to optimize both the activity and the stability of Ru/CeO2 catalyst for propane combustion. We found that the morphology of CeO2 support does not significantly affect the chemical states of Ru species but controls the interaction between the Ru and CeO2, leading to the tuning of oxygen vacancy in the CeO2 surface around the Ru-CeO2 interface. The Ru/CeO2 catalyst possesses more oxygen vacancy when CeO2-R with predominantly exposed CeO2{110} surface facets is used, providing a higher ability to adsorb and activate oxygen and propane. As a result, the Ru/CeO2-R catalyst exhibits higher catalytic activity and stability for propane combustion compared with the Ru/CeO2-C and Ru/CeO2-O catalysts. This work highlights a new strategy for the design of efficient metal/CeO2 catalysts by engineering morphology and associated surface facet of CeO2 support for the elimination of light alkane pollutants and other volatile organic compounds.
Subject(s)
Oxygen , Propane , CatalysisABSTRACT
AgPd alloy nanoparticles were applied for the electrocatalytic reduction of furfural (2-furfuraldehyde). Constant potential electrolysis experiments were carried out and furfural conversions and product selectivities to furfuryl alcohol were systematically investigated to elucidate the alloy composition-catalytic property relationship. AgPd catalysts exhibited faradaic efficiencies to furfuryl alcohol over 95% for Ag60Pd40 at low overpotentials in neutral, aqueous electrolyte.