Comparative Study of α- and β-MnO2 on Methyl Mercaptan Decomposition: The Role of Oxygen Vacancies

As a representative sulfur-containing volatile organic compounds (S-VOCs), CH3SH has attracted widespread attention due to its adverse environmental and health risks. The performance of Mn-based catalysts and the effect of their crystal structure on the CH3SH catalytic reaction have yet to be systematically investigated. In this paper, two different crystalline phases of tunneled MnO2 (alpha-MnO2 and beta-MnO2) with the similar nanorod morphology were used to remove CH3SH, and their physicochemical properties were comprehensively studied using high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), H-2-TPR, O-2-TPD, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. For the first time, we report that the specific reaction rate for alpha-MnO2 (0.029 mol g(-1) h(-1)) was approximately 4.1 times higher than that of beta-MnO2 (0.007 mol g(-1) h(-1)). The as-synthesized alpha-MnO2 exhibited higher CH3SH catalytic activity towards CH3SH than that of beta-MnO2, which can be ascribed to the additional oxygen vacancies, stronger surface oxygen migration ability, and better redox properties from alpha-MnO2. The oxygen vacancies on the catalyst surface provided the main active sites for the chemisorption of CH3SH, and the subsequent electron transfer led to the decomposition of CH3SH. The lattice oxygen on catalysts could be released during the reaction and thus participated in the further oxidation of sulfur-containing species. CH3SSCH3, S-0, SO32-, and SO42- were identified as the main products of CH3SH conversion. This work offers a new understanding of the interface interaction mechanism between Mn-based catalysts and S-VOCs.

Automated summary

In this study, two different crystalline phases of MnO2 (α-MnO2 and β-MnO2) with similar nanorod morphology were investigated for CH3SH removal. It was found that the specific reaction rate of α-MnO2 was approximately 4.1 times higher than that of β-MnO2. The higher catalytic activity of α-MnO2 can be attributed to the additional oxygen vacancies, stronger surface oxygen migration ability, and better redox properties. This work provides new insights into the interface interaction mechanism between Mn-based catalysts and S-VOCs.