Promotion Effects of Ce-Doping on Catalytic Oxidation of Ethane over Pt/CexTi1−xO2

Abstract

The catalytic oxidation of VOCs is widely acknowledged as the most available technology to reduce air pollution. Among the catalysts for VOCs, 1 wt%-Pt/TiO2 catalysts using metal as a doping element have shown amazing potential in many fields. However, achieving high catalytic performance at relatively low temperatures based on the activation of molecules is still a formidable challenge owing to the catalytic activity being highly dependent on temperature. Here, the role of the rare earth metal Ce in the catalytic oxidation of ethane was studied by preparing Pt/CexTi1−xO2 (x = 0, 0.002, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05) catalysts. When the Ce/(Ce+Ti) molar ratio was 0.01, Pt/Ce0.01Ti0.99O2 achieved 90% ethane conversion at 436 °C. This reaction temperature is 15% lower than that for Pt/TiO2. The characterization results show that the doping of Ce caused lattice expansion of TiO2 and its distortion brought about by oxygen vacancies. Additionally, the appropriate amount of Ce-doping can alter the interaction between the active component Pt and the carrier TiO2, thereby improving the activity and concentration of the active surface lattice oxygen species of the catalyst. These results provide a foundation for the design of the catalytic oxidation of VOCs under mild operating conditions.