Defect-engineered nonstoichiometric perovskite hosting high-activity PdO sites for enhanced hydrocarbon oxidation.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41927588.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-71358-3.
- No licence information is recorded for this record.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Supported noble metal catalysts are central to industrial, environmental, and energy applications, yet precisely constructing active sites with optimized geometry remains a formidable challenge beyond conventional particle size control. Here, we introduce a perovskite-based surface defect engineering strategy that enables atomic-level regulation of noble metal active sites. By tailoring La stoichiometry in LaAlO<sub>3</sub>, we engineer three distinct surface morphologies (planar, stepped, and crater-like) that serve as templates for anchoring and replicating supported PdO nanoparticles. Among these, the step-rich PdO configuration on La<sub>0.9</sub>AlO<sub>3-δ</sub> exhibits the highest methane oxidation activity, with a linear correlation between Pd step-site density and catalytic performance. The enhancement arises from low-coordination Pd atoms at step sites, which form stable Pd-C(CH<sub>3</sub>) covalent bonds and facilitate C-H bond activation, the rate-determining step in methane oxidation. This work establishes a generalizable approach to precisely tailor noble metal active sites through perovskite surface engineering, providing a robust framework for the rational design of efficient and durable oxidation catalysts.