Mn/CeO2 contains enriched surface lewis acid sites and pore structures accelerated catalytic oxidation of propane at low temperature

This abstract presents a mechanistic diagram of propane catalysis, illustrating the key conversion steps of the catalyst during the reaction process and providing a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanism. [Display omitted] •Large surface area and mesoporous structure facilitate the adsorption and transport of reactive gases.•Reinforce the concentration of acidic sites, thereby augmenting the adsorption and cleavage efficiency of propane.•Facilitating the reduction of the energy barrier for both acetone and carboxylic acid groups, thereby expediting the conversion of intermediates. The development of highly efficient non-precious metal catalysts for the low-temperature catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a critical imperative in VOCs control. In this study, a series of highly active CeMnOx catalysts with Mn-doped CeO2 were investigated. The catalysts (WHSV=30,000 mL g−1 h−1) exhibited the highest catalytic propane oxidation activity (T90 = 230 °C) and excellent stability over 600 h, When the Mn:Ce ratio was 2.5. The introduction of Mn doping resulted in modifications to the pore structure of CeO2, leading to an increase in specific surface area and enhanced gas transfer kinetics. Additionally, it induced surface electronic defects and elevated the concentration of acidic sites, thereby facilitating the adsorption and activation of propane. Consequently, these improvements contributed to an enhanced catalytic performance of the catalyst. The in-situ DRIFTS infrared spectra revealed that Mn doping reduced the activation energy of the reaction and facilitated the conversion of acetone groups as well as decomposition of carboxylic acid groups.