Total Oxidation of Light Alkane over Phosphate-Modified Pt/CeO 2 Catalysts

Developing efficient catalysts for the total oxidation of light alkane at low temperatures is challenging. In this study, superior catalytic performance in the total oxidation of light alkane was achieved by modulating the acidity and redox property of a Pt/CeO catalyst through phosphorus modification. Surface modification with phosphorus resulted in electron withdrawal from Pt, leading to platinum species with high valency and the generation of Brönsted acid sites, leading to increased acidity of the Pt/CeO catalyst. Consequently, the ability of the Pt/CeO catalyst to activate the C-H bond increased with increasing P content in the catalyst owing to the synergistic effect of Pt -(CeO -PO ) dipolar catalytic sites. In contrast, the redox property of the Pt/CeO catalyst weakened at first; subsequently, it was partially restored owing to the recovery of a part of the bare ceria surface with increasing P content. The turnover frequency in propane oxidation over the phosphate-modified Pt/CeO catalyst with a P/Ce atomic ratio of 0.06 was 10-fold higher than that over the unmodified Pt/CeO catalyst at 220 °C. This comprehensive study not only sheds light on the mechanism underlying the surface modification process but also offers a strategy for realizing higher catalytic activity in the total oxidation of light alkanes.