In situ tuning of bi-component manganese oxides supported Pt nanostructure for enhanced catalytic decomposition of formaldehyde

Abstract Bi-component Mn3O4 and MnO2 supported Pt nanoparticles (0.8 wt%) catalysts (Pt/MnOx) were prepared via hydrothermal synthesis of MnO2 and in-situ reduction of Pt precursor by NaBH4 solution over the MnO2 support. The result displayed that the Mn3O4 component could be obtained in the reduction process of Pt precursor over the MnO2 support. The content of Mn3O4 in the catalyst obviously played an important role in formaldehyde (HCHO) decomposition at low temperature (15 °C). The Pt/MnOx treated by 5 mL of NaBH4-NaOH mixture showed enhanced catalytic performance for formaldehyde decomposition mainly because of its proper molar ratio of Mn3O4/MnO2 which could not only induce the alteration of surface electronic state of Pt NPs adjacent to the support, but also facilitate the formation of extra surface oxygen species due to redox cycles of Mn3+/Mn4+. This finding highlights the advantage of multi-component catalysts with redox property and provides a facile synthesis of advanced catalysts for HCHO elimination at low temperature.