Manipulating interfacial atomic structure of Pt/Ce1−xYxO2−δ to improve charge transfer capacity and catalytic activity in aerobic oxidation of HMF

The electronic interaction between metal and support plays a significant role in varying catalytic activity of oxide-supported metal catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of biomass-based alcohols and aldehydes. Employing Y 3+ -doped ceria supported Pt catalysts, Pt/Ce 1-x Y x O 2-δ , different interfacial atomic structures, including Pt/Ce-Vo(-Ce) 2 , Pt/Y-Vo(-Ce) 2 , Pt/Ce-Vo(-Y) 2 , and Pt/Y-Vo(-Y) 2 (Vo represents an oxygen vacancy), were created in this work to modulate the interfacial electron transfer capacity. The results of experimental and theoretical investigations showed that the Pt/Y-Vo(-Ce) 2 interfacial structure owned the highest electron transfer capacity from Pt to the support, resulting in more Pt δ+ /Y-Vo(-Ce) 2 sites. Accordingly, the catalyst Pt/Ce 0.75 Y 0.25 O 2-δ owning the largest amount of Pt δ+ /Y-Vo(-Ce) 2 sites exhibited notably promoted catalytic activity for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) toward 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), affording a complete conversion of HMF and 96.6% yield of FDCA in 6 h. This work provided a facile and versatile strategy to modulate the electron transfer capacity of oxide supported metal catalysts by manipulating the interfacial atomic structure for promoting their activities in various catalytic oxidation reactions.