Activation of subnanometric Pt on Cu-modified CeO<sub>2</sub> via redox-coupled atomic layer deposition for CO oxidation.

Liu, Xiao; Jia, Shuangfeng; Yang, Ming; Tang, Yuanting; Wen, Yanwei; Chu, Shengqi; Wang, Jianbo; Shan, Bin et al. · Nat Commun · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Improving the low-temperature activity (below 100 °C) and noble-metal efficiency of automotive exhaust catalysts has been a continuous effort to eliminate cold-start emissions, yet great challenges remain. Here we report a strategy to activate the low-temperature performance of Pt catalysts on Cu-modified CeO<sub>2</sub> supports based on redox-coupled atomic layer deposition. The interfacial reducibility and structure of composite catalysts have been precisely tuned by oxide doping and accurate control of Pt size. Cu-modified CeO<sub>2</sub>-supported Pt sub-nanoclusters demonstrate a remarkable performance with an onset of CO oxidation reactivity below room temperature, which is one order of magnitude more active than atomically-dispersed Pt catalysts. The Cu-O-Ce site with activated lattice oxygen anchors deposited Pt sub-nanoclusters, leading to a moderate CO adsorption strength at the interface that facilitates the low-temperature CO oxidation performance.