Local structure of Pt and Pd ions in Ce1−xTixO2: X-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and extended x-ray absorption fine structure

Structure of Atomically Dispersed Pt in a SnO2 Thin Film under Reaction Conditions: Origin of Its High Performance in Micro Electromechanical System Gas Sensor Catalysis

A battery-driven micro electromechanical system (MEMS) gas sensor has been developed for household safety when using natural gas. The heart of the MEMS gas sensor is a 7.5 at % Pt-SnO₂ thin film catalyst deposited on the SnO₂ sensor layer. The catalyst enhances the sensitivity to methane, though its structure under working conditions is unclear. In this study, in situ XAFS was applied to a 7.5 at % Pt-SnO₂ catalyst layer deposited on a Si substrate, and we demonstrated that atomically dispersed Pt maintains its lattice position in SnO₂ with a small loss of surrounding lattice oxygen in the presence of 1% CH₄ and a more reducing gas of 1% H₂ at the reaction temperature (703 K), i.e., no Pt aggregation is observed. The lost oxygen is easily recovered by re-oxidation by air. This work has revealed that the atomically dispersed Pt in the SnO₂ lattice is the active structure and it is stable even under reaction conditions, which guarantees a long lifetime for the gas sensor.

In situ valence modification of Pd/NiO nano-catalysts in supercritical water towards toluene oxidation

Pd⁰ is more active than PdO_x in toluene oxidation owing to its capability of activating gaseous oxygen at low temperatures and returning to the original state even with excess O₂.

Noble metal ions in CeO2 and TiO2: synthesis, structure and catalytic properties

CeO₂ and TiO₂ based noble metal ionic catalysts show very high catalytic activities toward several reactions such as auto exhaust, water gas shift, H₂ + O₂ recombination compared to supported nanometal catalysts due to their electronic interactions.

Chemistry of precious metal oxides relevant to heterogeneous catalysis

The platinum group metals (PGMs) are widely employed as catalysts, especially for the mitigation of automotive exhaust pollutants. The low natural abundance of PGMs and increasing demand from the expanding automotive sector necessitates strategies to improve the efficiency of PGM use. Conventional catalysts typically consist of PGM nanoparticles dispersed on high surface area oxide supports. However, high PGM loadings must be used to counter sintering, ablation, and deactivation of the catalyst such that sufficient activity is maintained over the operating lifetime. An appealing strategy for reducing metal loading is the substitution of PGM ions into oxide hosts: the use of single atoms (ions) as catalytic active sites represents a highly atom-efficient alternative to the use of nanoparticles. This review addresses the crystal chemistry and reactivity of oxide compounds of precious metals that are, or could be relevant to developing an understanding of the role of precious metal ions in heterogeneous catalysis. We review the chemical conditions that facilitate stabilization of the notoriously oxophobic precious metals in oxide environments, and survey complex oxide hosts that have proven to be amenable to reversible redox cycling of PGMs.

The local structure of PdxCe1−xO2−x−δsolid solutions

In this paper, physical methods in combination with quantum chemistry calculations are used to study the local structure of Pd_xCe_1−xO_2−δsolid solutions.

Noble metal ionic catalysts

Because of growing environmental concerns and increasingly stringent regulations governing auto emissions, new more efficient exhaust catalysts are needed to reduce the amount of pollutants released from internal combustion engines. To accomplish this goal, the major pollutants in exhaust-CO, NO(x), and unburned hydrocarbons-need to be fully converted to CO(2), N(2), and H(2)O. Most exhaust catalysts contain nanocrystalline noble metals (Pt, Pd, Rh) dispersed on oxide supports such as Al(2)O(3) or SiO(2) promoted by CeO(2). However, in conventional catalysts, only the surface atoms of the noble metal particles serve as adsorption sites, and even in 4-6 nm metal particles, only 1/4 to 1/5 of the total noble metal atoms are utilized for catalytic conversion. The complete dispersion of noble metals can be achieved only as ions within an oxide support. In this Account, we describe a novel solution to this dispersion problem: a new solution combustion method for synthesizing dispersed noble metal ionic catalysts. We have synthesized nanocrystalline, single-phase Ce(1-x)M(x)O(2-delta) and Ce(1-x-y)Ti(y)M(x)O(2-delta) (M = Pt, Pd, Rh; x = 0.01-0.02, delta approximately x, y = 0.15-0.25) oxides in fluorite structure. In these oxide catalysts, Pt(2+), Pd(2+), or Rh(3+) ions are substituted only to the extent of 1-2% of Ce(4+) ion. Lower-valent noble metal ion substitution in CeO(2) creates oxygen vacancies. Reducing molecules (CO, H(2), NH(3)) are adsorbed onto electron-deficient noble metal ions, while oxidizing (O(2), NO) molecules are absorbed onto electron-rich oxide ion vacancy sites. The rates of CO and hydrocarbon oxidation and NO(x) reduction (with >80% N(2) selectivity) are 15-30 times higher in the presence of these ionic catalysts than when the same amount of noble metal loaded on an oxide support is used. Catalysts with palladium ion dispersed in CeO(2) or Ce(1-x)Ti(x)O(2) were far superior to Pt or Rh ionic catalysts. Therefore, we have demonstrated that the more expensive Pt and Rh metals are not necessary in exhaust catalysts. We have also grown these nanocrystalline ionic catalysts on ceramic cordierite and have reproduced the results we observed in powder material on the honeycomb catalytic converter. Oxygen in a CeO(2) lattice is activated by the substitution of Ti ion, as well as noble metal ions. Because this substitution creates longer Ti-O and M-O bonds relative to the average Ce-O bond within the lattice, the materials facilitate high oxygen storage and release. The interaction among M(0)/M(n+), Ce(4+)/Ce(3+), and Ti(4+)/Ti(3+) redox couples leads to the promoting action of CeO(2), activation of lattice oxygen and high oxygen storage capacity, metal support interaction, and high rates of catalytic activity in exhaust catalysis.