High-loading single Pt atom sites [Pt-O(OH) x ] catalyze the CO PROX reaction with high activity and selectivity at mild conditions

• Published in: Science advances 2020-06, Vol.6 (25), p.eaba3809-eaba3809
• Main Authors: Cao, Sufeng, Zhao, Yanyan, Lee, Sungsik, Yang, Shize, Liu, Jilei, Giannakakis, Georgios, Li, Mengwei, Ouyang, Mengyao, Wang, Dunwei, Sykes, E. Charles H., Flytzani-Stephanopoulos, Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Materials Science; SciAdv r-articles
• ISSN: 2375-2548; 2375-2548
• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba3809

Pt atoms stabilized by alkaline ions efficiently and selectively catalyze CO oxidation under H 2 rich conditions (PROX). The preferential oxidation of CO (PROX) in hydrogen-rich fuel gas streams is an attractive option to remove CO while effectively conserving energy and H 2 . However, high CO conversion with concomitant high selectivity to CO 2 but not H 2 O is challenging. Here, we report the synthesis of high-loading single Pt atom (2.0 weight %) catalysts with oxygen-bonded alkaline ions that stabilize the cationic Pt. The synthesis is performed in aqueous solution and achieves high Pt atom loadings in a single-step incipient wetness impregnation of alumina or silica. Promisingly, these catalysts have high CO PROX selectivity even at high CO conversion (~99.8% conversion, 70% selectivity at 110°C) and good stability under reaction conditions. These findings pave the way for the design of highly efficient single-atom catalysts, elucidate the role of ─OH species in CO oxidation, and confirm the absence of a support effect for our case.