Room temperature O2 plasma treatment of SiO2 supported Au catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene in the presence of large excess of ethylene

► Non-thermal O2 plasma is applied to remove the encapsulating agent on Au/SiO2. ► Au/SiO2 is investigated in selective hydrogenation of C2H2 in large excess C2H4. ► O2 plasma can efficiently remove APTES without sintering of Au nanoparticles. ► O2 plasma-treated Au/SiO2 shows good catalytic performances at low temperature. ► Neutral Au on the O2 plasma-treated Au/SiO2 is more active for dissociating H2.