Strong metal-support interaction enables non-radical pathway in Co-hydroxyapatite catalysts for efficient pollutant degradation

The catalytic efficacy of supported metal catalysts is inextricably linked to their structural characteristics. Although transition metal catalysts are extensively utilized across diverse catalytic reactions owing to their pronounced activity, they are frequently susceptible to metal leaching and deactivation in liquid-phase environments, concomitant with challenges in regeneration. The strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) presents a viable approach to bolster the stability of supported metal nanoparticles; however, this often comes at the expense of diminished activity, primarily attributable to either the encapsulation of active sites by the support or an excessively robust metal-support linkage. In this investigation, we rationally designed a supported transition metal nano catalyst by integrating transition metal ions into a hydroxyapatite (HAP) matrix to modulate the SMSI. The resultant catalyst demonstrates exceptional catalytic activity coupled with remarkable stability, exhibiting negligible transition metal leaching during Fenton-like degradation processes. Comprehensive characterization elucidates that the incorporation of transition metals into the HAP lattice reinforces the metal-support interaction, thereby effectively anchoring the transition species. Furthermore, the ion-exchange synthetic protocol confers an augmented specific surface area of the active metal component, consequently endowing the supported transition nanoparticles with both heightened catalytic activity and enhanced stability.