Single-atom Zr promoter boosts oxygen activation on ceria-supported Pt catalysts

Weixin Huang, Hao Xu, Yang Deng, Shih-Wei Lin, Hien N. Pham, Rui Zhang, Dong Jiang, Zihao Zhang, Andrew DeLaRiva, Shuxuan Feng, Yixiao Li, Xinrui Zhang, Abhaya K. Datye, Chih-Jung Chen () and Yong Wang ()
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Weixin Huang: Washington State University
Hao Xu: Washington State University
Yang Deng: University of North Dakota
Shih-Wei Lin: National Taiwan University
Hien N. Pham: University of New Mexico
Rui Zhang: Washington State University
Dong Jiang: Washington State University
Zihao Zhang: Washington State University
Andrew DeLaRiva: University of New Mexico
Shuxuan Feng: University of North Dakota
Yixiao Li: Washington State University
Xinrui Zhang: Northwestern University
Abhaya K. Datye: University of New Mexico
Chih-Jung Chen: National Taiwan University
Yong Wang: Washington State University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Activation of surface lattice oxygen and chemisorbed oxygen on catalyst surfaces constitutes a pivotal step in heterogeneous oxidative catalysis. Herein, we report a strategy for enhancing oxygen activation by rational design of catalysts with single-atom promoters. Single-site Zr species in CeO2 (Zr1-CeO2) are synthesized using the atom-trapping method. The Zr1-CeO2-supported Pt catalyst exhibits enhanced catalytic performance over the CeO2-supported Pt catalyst in the oxidation of CO, C3H8, and C3H6, achieving significantly lower T50 values (temperature required to reach 50% conversion). This enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the formation of an asymmetric Zr1-O-Pt1 structure, which favors the activation of the adjacent surface lattice oxygen and chemisorbed molecular oxygen. This work exemplifies that incorporating single-site atoms into oxide support facilitates oxygen activation, providing new insights into the role of atomically dispersed promoters in heterogeneous catalysis.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62447-w

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