Catalysts of self-assembled Pt@CeO2−δ-rich core–shell nanoparticles on 3D ordered macroporous Ce1−xZrxO₂for soot oxidation: nanostructure-dependent catalytic activity

The catalytic performance in heterogeneous catalytic reactions consisting of solid reactants is strongly dependent on the nanostructure of the catalysts. Metal-oxides core-shell (MOCS) nanostructures have potential to enhance the catalytic activity for soot oxidation reactions as a result of optimizing the density of active sites located at the metal-oxide interface. Here, we report a facile strategy for fabricating nanocatalysts with self-assembled Pt@CeO2-δ-rich core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) supported on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) Ce1-xZrxO₂via the in situ colloidal crystal template (CCT) method. The nanostructure-dependent activity of the catalysts for soot oxidation were investigated by means of SEM, TEM, H₂-TPR, XPS, O₂-isothermal chemisorption, soot-TPO and so on. A CeO2-δ-rich shell on a Pt core is preferentially separated from Ce1-xZrxO₂ precursors and could self-assemble to form MOCS nanostructures. 3DOM structures can enhance the contact efficiency between catalysts and solid reactants (soot). Pt@CeO2-δ-rich core-shell nanostructures can optimize the density of oxygen vacancies (Ov) as active sites located at the interface of Pt-Ce1-xZrxO₂. Remarkably, 3DOM Pt@CeO2-δ-rich/Ce1-xZrxO₂ catalysts show super catalytic performance and strongly nanostructure-dependent activity for soot oxidation in the absence of NO and NO₂. For example, the T₅₀ of the 3DOM Pt@CeO2-δ-rich/Ce0.8Zr0.2O₂ catalyst is lowered down to 408 °C, and the reaction rate of the 3DOM Pt@CeO2-δ-rich/Ce0.2Zr0.8O₂ catalyst (0.12 μmol g⁻¹ s⁻¹) at 300 °C is 4 times that of the 3DOM Pt/Ce0.2Zr0.8O₂ catalyst (0.03 μmol g⁻¹ s⁻¹). The structures of 3DOM Ce1-xZrxO₂-supported Pt@CeO2-δ-rich core-shell NPs are decent systems for deep oxidation of solid reactants or macromolecules, and this facile technique for synthesizing catalysts has potential to be applied to other element compositions.