Silanol-Stabilized Pt-CeO _<i>x</i> Nanoparticles in Protozeolite for Efficient HCHO Oxidation

The efficient elimination of formaldehyde (HCHO) at room temperature has garnered significant attention for enhancing indoor air quality. In this study, bimetallic Pt-CeOx nanoparticles were anchored via silanol groups within protozeolite (PZ) using a coimpregnation method. Owing to the ultrafine size and unique electronic structure of active Pt sites, the optimized Pt/CeOx/PZ catalyst demonstrated superior activity and stability for HCHO oxidation, achieving complete conversion of HCHO while maintaining stability for over 24 h at room temperature. AC-HAADF-STEM revealed the formation of a heterojunction structure between Pt and CeOx species mediated by silanol groups in PZ. Moreover, in situ DRIFTS combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the incorporation of CeOx species enhanced the electron density of active Pt sites, improved the ability to activate H2O and O2 molecules, and reduced the activation barrier for HCHO oxidation. This study not only demonstrates a compelling application of PZ-supported bimetallic catalysts in HCHO oxidation but also provides valuable insights into modulating the electronic and geometric structures of metal species via a silanol-engineering strategy.