Biostarch-assisted synthesis of microscopic heterogeneous manganese-cobalt oxides for efficient catalytic combustion of toluene

Abstract

A nanoparticles-stacking MnCox oxide with multifarious active phases was successfully synthesized by a starch-paste assisted method, which achieved complete combustion of 1,000 ppm toluene at 226 °C. The characterization results showed that by using this method, it resulted in not only the construction of the porous structure but also successful enrichment of active species such as trivalent manganese, trivalent cobalt and electrophilic oxygen species, thanks to the intensive interaction of Mn and Co species with the assistance of starch-paste. The special metal dispersibility and valence adjustment functions of starch contributed to the production of multifarious active phases with amazing reducibility as well as oxygen mobility at lower temperature. In situ DRIFTS experiments and DFT calculation results showed that the synergistic complementary regions provided vibrant lattice oxygen and the reproducible electrophilic oxygen species for toluene combustion, guaranteeing the continuous and efficient catalytic performance. This study provides a new viewpoint and idea for creating of novel catalysts with multiple active regions.