Bulk metal doping and surface phosphate
modification were synergically
adopted in a rational design to upgrade the CeO2 catalyst,
which is highly active but easily deactivated for the catalytic oxidation
of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (Cl-VOCs). The metal doping
increased the redox ability and defect sites of CeO2, which
mostly promoted catalytic activity and inhibited the formation of
dechlorinated byproducts but generated polychlorinated byproducts.
The subsequent surface modification of the metal-doped CeO2 catalysts with nonmetallic phosphate completely suppressed the formation
of polychlorinated byproducts and, more importantly, enhanced the
stability of the surface structure by forming a chainmail layer. A
highly active, durable, and selective catalyst of phosphate-functionalized
RuO
x
–CeO2 was the most
promising among all the metal-doped (Ru, Pd, Pt, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and
Cu) CeO2 catalysts investigated owing to the prominent
chemical stability of RuO
x
and its superior
versatility in the catalytic oxidation of different kinds of Cl-VOCs
and other typical pollutants, including dimethyl sulfide, CO, and
C3H8. Moreover, the chemical stability of the
catalyst, including its bulk and surface structural stability, was
investigated by combining intensive treatment with HCl/H2O or HCl with subsequent ex situ ultraviolet–visible light
Raman spectroscopy and confirmed the superior resistance to Cl poisoning
of the phosphate-functionalized RuO
x
–CeO2. This work exemplifies a promising strategy for developing
ideal catalysts for the removal of Cl-VOCs and provides a catalyst
with the superior catalytic performance in Cl-VOC oxidation to date.