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MnOx Nanoparticle-Dispersed CeO2 Nanocubes: A Remarkable Heteronanostructured System with Unusual Structural Characteristics and Superior Catalytic Performance
, M.H. Amin, B.M. Reddy, A. Nafady, K.A. Al Farhan, S.K. Bhargava
Published in American Chemical Society
2015
Volume: 7
   
Issue: 30
Pages: 16525 - 16535
Abstract
Understanding the interface-induced effects of heteronanostructured catalysts remains a significant challenge due to their structural complexity, but it is crucial for developing novel applied catalytic materials. This work reports a systematic characterization and catalytic evaluation of MnOx nanoparticle-dispersed CeO2 nanocubes for two important industrial applications, namely, diesel soot oxidation and continuous-flow benzylamine oxidation. The X-ray diffraction and Raman studies reveal an unusual lattice expansion in CeO2 after the addition of MnOx. This interesting observation is due to conversion of smaller sized Ce4+ (0.097 nm) to larger sized Ce3+ (0.114 nm) in cerium oxide led by the strong interaction between MnOx and CeO2 at their interface. Another striking observation noticed from transmission electron microscopy, high angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy studies is that the MnOx species are well-dispersed along the edges of the CeO2 nanocubes. This remarkable decoration leads to an enhanced reducible nature of the cerium oxide at the MnOx/CeO2 interface. It was found that MnOx/CeO2 heteronanostructures efficiently catalyze soot oxidation at lower temperatures (50% soot conversion, T50 ∼660 K) compared with that of bare CeO2 nanocubes (T50 ∼723 K). Importantly, the MnOx/CeO2 heteronanostructures exhibit a noticeable steady performance in the oxidation of benzylamine with a high selectivity of the dibenzylimine product (∼94-98%) compared with that of CeO2 nanocubes (∼69-91%). The existence of a strong synergistic effect at the interface sites between the CeO2 and MnOx components is a key factor for outstanding catalytic efficiency of the MnOx/CeO2 heteronanostructures. (Figure Presented). © 2015 American Chemical Society.
About the journal
JournalData powered by TypesetACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
PublisherData powered by TypesetAmerican Chemical Society
ISSN19448244