Accelerating Surface Lattice Oxygen Activation of Pt/TiO2–x by Modulating the Interface Electron Interaction for Efficient Photocatalytic Toluene Oxidation

The activation of surface lattice oxygen is crucial for designing highly efficient photocatalysts for volatile organic compound (VOC) purification. Herein, the Pt/TiO2–x catalyst with abundant oxygen vacancies was successfully prepared via the pyrolysis of the Pt-modified Ti metal–organic framework (MOF) under an air atmosphere. Detailed experimental results and density functional theory calculations revealed that the introduction of oxygen vacancies modulated the electronic configuration of the Pt site and enhanced the charge transfer from Ti to Pt, which created an electronic metal–support Pt–Ti interaction interface (EMSI). The established Pt–Ti interface is favorable for the activation of the surface lattice oxygen adjacent to the Pt site [identified by H2 temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS)] and subsequently facilitates toluene oxidation via a direct ring opening process. This study offers a promising strategy for the design of high-performance photocatalysts for VOC oxidation.