Preparation of Au0.5Pt0.5/MnO2/cotton catalysts for decomposition of formaldehyde

Powder Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 and Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 /cotton catalysts were successfully prepared by facile methods. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by means of XRD, SEM, TEM, and TGA. Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 alloy NPs were evenly dispersed on the surface of nest-like MnO 2 and no agglomeration was observed. The powder Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 catalyst was adhered to the surface of cotton fibers, and the practical loading amount first increases, and then levels off with increase of the theoretical loading dosage. The Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 /cotton catalysts showed excellent catalytic activities for oxidative decomposition of formaldehyde (HCHO). 15 wt% Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 /cotton has the highest catalytic activity and the temperature for complete decomposition of HCHO is 120 °C. The valence states of MnO 2 , MnO 2 porous structures, synergistic effect between Au 1− x Pt x NPs and MnO 2 , and synergistic effect between Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 and cotton are considered to be the main reasons for the observed high catalytic activity of Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 /cotton catalysts. The Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 /cotton catalysts can not only avoid the disadvantages of power catalysts but also improve the catalytic activity; these advantages indicate that Au 0.5 Pt 0.5 /MnO 2 /cotton catalysts have promising potentials in practical applications. Graphical Abstract .