Additional effects of Pt and Nb on hierarchically porous titania in the catalytic removal of n-butanol

Platinum catalysts supported on hierarchically porous TiO2 modified by niobium have been synthesized, characterized and tested for the complete oxidation of n-butanol. It was found that after Nb addition to titania, the hierarchical porous structure (meso- and macropores) was maintained. The anatase titania crystallite size decreased with Nb content which was consistent with the specific surface area increase (>160 m2 g−1), even after calcination at 400 °C. The incorporation of niobium into Pt/TiO2 catalysts led to a significant increase in catalytic activity in comparison with catalyst without niobium addition at a relative low temperature (≈100 °C). Nb incorporation promoted the formation of reduced platinum species and resulted also in the formation of very easily reducible species (Pt2+ and Ti4+ in the vicinity). As a result, the activity at 100 °C of Pt/5%Nb–TiO2 catalyst was 4 times higher than for Nb-free Pt/TiO2 catalyst.

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► Hierarchically porous Nb–TiO2 successfully synthesized with different range of Nb content.
► Nb addition promoted the formation of reduced Pt species impregnated on the surface.
► Nb addition resulted in the formation of easily reducible Pt and Ti species.
► Pt/5 wt%Nb–TiO2 was 4 times higher than Pt/TiO2 in the n-butanol oxidation.