Photoinduced Pt-Decorated Expanded Graphite toward Low-Temperature Benzene Catalytic Combustion

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a great threat to the health of human beings, and developing catalysts with prominent activity and stability to eliminate them are highly desired. In this work, carbon-based Pt catalysts toward low-temperature benzene catalytic combustion were prepared through a photodeposition strategy using three-dimensional expanded graphite (EG), bulk graphite, and active carbon as supports. It was found that the Pt/EG catalyst demonstrated the best catalytic performance for benzene oxidation (T-100 = 180 degrees C) under a high flow rate of 120,000 h(-1). Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed decomposition techniques were applied to explore the structure-activity relationship. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity and the electron transfer property caused by the Pt nanoparticles and EG support led to a good catalytic performance. Moreover, the 0.5 Pt/EG catalyst also showed excellent stability, good water resistance properties, and high recyclability, which can be used as a promising candidate for practical VOC catalytic combustion.