Activating Pt clusters for efficient removal of HCHO by modulating Vn+ within VxOy support

The catalytic performance of Pt clusters towards formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation was activated by tuning the valence of vanadium (V) element within a VxOy support. Through a facile but efficient solvothermal synthesis and heat-treatment process, the V valence can be precisely regulated from V4+ to V5+. Subsequently, the HCHO catalytic oxidation rate of Pt/VxOy catalyst has dramatically increased from 0.0146 to 0.0294 mmol(.)h(-1.)m(-2) at 15 degrees C. The increased V valence has effectively accelerated the charge transfer from VxOy support to Pt cluster, and promoted the upshift of d-band center of the Pt element, leading to a low reduction temperature of Pt2+ to Pt-0 and high production of reactive adsorbed oxygen. This study provides a simple but feasible strategy to tune the valence of V element within VxOy and offers new insights for the study of other possible multivalent metal oxides used in different catalytic reactions.

Automated summary

The catalytic performance of Pt clusters towards formaldehyde oxidation was improved by adjusting the valence of the V element in a VxOy support. The V valence was precisely regulated from V4+ to V5+ through solvothermal synthesis and heat-treatment process. This study provides a strategy to tune the valence of V element in VxOy and offers insights for the study of other multivalent metal oxides in catalytic reactions.