Tuning surface defects of WO3-x for enhanced photothermal catalytic propane combustion

[Display omitted] •Engineering of surface defects significantly enhances the photothermal catalyticpropane combustion activity.•The impact of oxygen vacancies on photothermal effect boosts the surface temperature.•Kinetic analysis, in-situ spectroscopy studies, and theoretical simulations elucidate the catalytic mechanism. Photothermal synergistic catalysis for volatile organic compounds has been widely exploited due to its low energy consumption and high-efficiency advantages. However, little is known about how the defect concentration affects the photothermal catalytic performance. Herein, the regulated surface oxygen defects of Pt/WO3-x via calcined under various atmospheres were synthesized, showing an excellent photothermal catalytic propane combustion over the Pt/WO3-x with high oxygen vacancies concentration under light without any external heat source. The experiments and theory simulation unveiled a new photothermal reaction mechanism in which surface defects are conducive to broadening the adsorption light and trapping the photogenerated electrons to boost the activation of O2. This work bodes well for opto-surface defects engineering strategy in advancing and implementing a “solar remove VOCs” process.