Pt on Atomic-Layered WO3 Islands: Electronic Tuning of Platinum–Tungsten Heterostructures for Highly Efficient Low-Temperature VOC Combustion

Adjusting the electronic state of noble metal catalysts on a nanoscale is crucial for optimizing the performance of nanocatalysts in many important environmental catalytic reactions, particularly in volatile organic compound (VOC) combustion. This study reports a novel strategy for optimizing Pt catalysts by modifying their electronic structure to enhance the electron density of Pt. The research illustrates the optimal 0.2Pt-0.3W/Fe2O3 heterostructure with atomic-thick WO3 layers as a bulking block to electronically modify supported Pt nanoparticles. Methods such as electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirm Pt’s electron-enriched state resulting from electron transfer from atomic-thick WO3. Testing for benzene oxidation revealed enhanced low-temperature activity with moderate tungsten incorporation. Kinetic and mechanistic analyses provide insights into how the enriched electron density benefits the activation of oxygen and the adsorption of benzene on Pt sites, thereby facilitating the oxidation reaction. This pioneering work on modifying the electronic structure of supported Pt nanocatalysts establishes an innovative catalyst design approach. The electronic structure-performance-dependent relationships presented in this study assist in the rational design of efficient VOC abatement catalysts, contributing to clean energy and environmental solutions.