Enhancing catalytic performance and hot electron generation through engineering metal-oxide and oxide-oxide interfaces

• Published in: Catalysis today Vol. 425; p. 114306
• Main Authors: Song, Kyoungjae, Kim, Jihun, Kim, Daeho, Hong, Seunghwa, Kim, Ki-jeong, An, Kwangjin, Park, Jeong Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Hot electrons; In-situ NAP-XPS analysis; Metal-oxide interfaces; Methanol oxidation; Oxide-oxide interfaces; Selectivity; Oxide-oxide interfaces; Selectivity; Hot electrons; Methanol oxidation; Metal-oxide interfaces; In-situ NAP-XPS analysis
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2023.114306

Interfaces are of utmost importance in catalytic reactions, influencing reaction kinetics and electron transfer processes. However, investigations in combined interfaces of metal-oxide and oxide-oxide at heterogeneous catalysts still have challenges due to their complex structure. Herein, we synthesized well-defined Co3O4 and CeO2 cubes with distinct facets and investigated their catalytic performance when deposited on a Pt-thin film, focusing on the influence of metal-oxide and oxide-oxide interfaces. Catalytic measurements demonstrated that the CeO2/Pt interface significantly enhanced turnover frequency (TOF) and selectivity for partial methanol oxidation compared to Co3O4/Pt and bare Pt. Notably, the CeO2/Co3O4/Pt nanodevice exhibited improved partial oxidation selectivity, highlighting the role of the CeO2/Co3O4 interface in methyl formate production. Chemicurrent measurements demonstrate enhanced hot electron generation due to increased overall TOF and partial oxidation production. We also conducted near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) analysis, revealing a higher concentration of Ce3+ ions and increased oxygen vacancies in the CeO2/Co3O4/Pt catalyst, suggesting oxygen migration from CeO2 to Co3O4, leading to methoxy species stabilization and promoting methyl formate formation.
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•The effect of combined interfaces on methanol oxidation was investigated.•The formation of the CeO2/Pt interface leads to enhancing the overall catalytic activity and selectivity.•The CeO2/Co3O4/Pt catalytic nanodevice showed the highest reactivity and selectivity.•The effect of the CeO2/Co3O4 interface was analyzed by the in-situ NAP-XPS under methanol conditions.