Modifying defect States in CeO2 by Fe doping: A strategy for low-temperature catalytic oxidation of toluene with sunlight

Abstract

Highly efficient, low cost and green ways to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are quite desirable due to the ever-increasing environmental issues. Photothermal catalytic oxidation provides a pathway for solving these problems, but its application is always limited by lack of low-cost and active catalysts. Herein, this limitation is overcome by using doping to refine defect states. As a proof of concept, hierarchical CeO2 nanorods are employed as a model material for subtle Fe doping. The results reveal that the oxygen defects facilitate activation of the OO bond and the migration and separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. By virtue of such favorable synergistic effect, a satisfactory toluene conversion (>98 %) was obtained. This work provides new insights into the design of highly effective catalysts and the construction of an economically viable process for VOC elimination.