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Tang X, Ge S, Lv Y, Sun G, Wang Z, Xie J, Peng M, Xu Y, Zhang J, Yao B, He Q, Guo Y, Zhan W, Wang L, Zhou L, Xu B, Dai S, Guo Y, Ma D. Blocking the Operando Formation of Single-Atom Spectators by Interfacial Engineering. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2025; 64:e202505507. [PMID: 40178203 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202505507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2025] [Revised: 03/29/2025] [Accepted: 04/02/2025] [Indexed: 04/05/2025]
Abstract
Aside from activity and selectivity, catalyst stability is a key focus in heterogeneous catalysis research. Although sintering of metal species has been considered the primary cause for deactivation of metal catalysts, our study reveals that the loss of activity at low reaction temperatures in the CeO2-supported Pt (Pt/CeO2) catalyst in complete propane oxidation is due to the dispersion of Pt ensemble sites (nanoclusters) and their subsequent operando conversion into Pt single atoms under reaction conditions. These Pt single-atom species exhibit low reactivity and act as spectators in the low-temperature reaction region. To address this issue, we engineered the surface of CeO2 by introducing NbOx, which does not directly interact with Pt. Instead, NbOx blocks the strong binding sites for Pt on CeO2, thereby preventing Pt redispersion/fragmentation and preserving reactive Pt ensembles. This strategy led to a remarkable 37-fold increase in the reaction rate compared to the Pt/CeO2 catalyst. Our findings emphasize the importance of suppressing the formation of noble metal single-atom spectators through innovative surface engineering strategy. These mechanistic insights not only advance the understanding of the materials science of Pt/CeO2 but also extend to critical technological fields such as energy conversion systems and environmental remediation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China
| | - Shasha Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Yao Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Geng Sun
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chemical Theory and Mechanism, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, P.R. China
| | - Zhaohua Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China
| | - Junzhong Xie
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China
| | - Mi Peng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China
| | - Yao Xu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China
| | - Bingqing Yao
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Qian He
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Yanglong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Wangcheng Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Lihui Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Bingjun Xu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China
| | - Sheng Dai
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Yun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Ding Ma
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China
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