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Single-atom Zr promoter boosts oxygen activation on ceria-supported Pt catalysts

Author

Listed:
  • Weixin Huang

    (Washington State University
    University of North Dakota)

  • Hao Xu

    (Washington State University)

  • Yang Deng

    (University of North Dakota)

  • Shih-Wei Lin

    (National Taiwan University)

  • Hien N. Pham

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Rui Zhang

    (Washington State University)

  • Dong Jiang

    (Washington State University)

  • Zihao Zhang

    (Washington State University
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Andrew DeLaRiva

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Shuxuan Feng

    (University of North Dakota)

  • Yixiao Li

    (Washington State University)

  • Xinrui Zhang

    (Northwestern University)

  • Abhaya K. Datye

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Chih-Jung Chen

    (National Taiwan University
    National Taiwan University)

  • Yong Wang

    (Washington State University
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Weixin Huang & Hao Xu & Yang Deng & Shih-Wei Lin & Hien N. Pham & Rui Zhang & Dong Jiang & Zihao Zhang & Andrew DeLaRiva & Shuxuan Feng & Yixiao Li & Xinrui Zhang & Abhaya K. Datye & Chih-Jung Chen & , 2025. "Single-atom Zr promoter boosts oxygen activation on ceria-supported Pt catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62447-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62447-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Na Han & Yu Wang & Hui Yang & Jun Deng & Jinghua Wu & Yafei Li & Yanguang Li, 2018. "Ultrathin bismuth nanosheets from in situ topotactic transformation for selective electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to formate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Zihao Zhang & Jinshu Tian & Yubing Lu & Shize Yang & Dong Jiang & Weixin Huang & Yixiao Li & Jiyun Hong & Adam S. Hoffman & Simon R. Bare & Mark H. Engelhard & Abhaya K. Datye & Yong Wang, 2023. "Memory-dictated dynamics of single-atom Pt on CeO2 for CO oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
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