The Effect of Aniline Pretreatment on Pt/CeO2 Nanocatalysts for Boosting Toluene Oxidation

A comprehensive study was conducted to explore an innovative strategy aimed at enhancing the catalytic activity and longevity of Pt-supported CeO2 nanocatalysts through the pretreatment with aniline. The introduction of aniline was found to effectively induce and strengthen the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) within the Pt-supported CeO2 nanocatalysts, yielding a substantial increase in catalytic performance. Specifically, the T90 value for the 0.9Pt/CeO2-A catalyst was determined to be 149 °C when subjected to a toluene concentration of 1000 ppm in a dry air mixture at a weight hourly space velocity of 48,000 mL g−1 h−1. Extensive experimental analyses conducted using techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and visible Raman spectroscopy revealed that the modification via aniline significantly alters the physicochemical properties of the Pt/CeO2 system. Notable changes included an increase in the concentration of Pt0 and Ce3+ ions, a reduction in Pt particle size, and a corresponding increase in surface oxygen vacancies. These modifications are posited to be pivotal in the enhancement of both catalytic activity and durability. The findings of this investigation suggest that the methodological approach delineated herein may represent a universal strategy for augmenting the activity and stability of other noble metal-supported CeO2 nanocatalysts.