Effect of Y-stabilized ZrO2 as support on catalytic performance of Pt for n-butane oxidation

The effect of Y-stabilized ZrO2 as support on the Pt dispersion and catalytic activity for the total oxidation of n-butane was investigated. From XRD, TEM and CO chemisorption measurements, Pt particles were found to be well dispersed with a size of ca. 10 nm over the surface of ZrO2 and Y-stabilized ZrO2, when Pt supported catalysts were calcined at 600 °C. Although Pt particles supported on ZrO2 were significantly sintered by high temperature calcination above 800 °C, no aggregation of Pt particles was observed for Pt/Y–ZrO2. When the catalyst was calcined at higher temperatures, Pt catalysts supported on Y-stabilized ZrO2 showed higher activity than Pt/ZrO2 for the total oxidation of n-butane. The intrinsic activity, expressed in terms of turnover frequency (TOF), increased with the decrease in Pt dispersion, indicating that n-butane oxidation over Pt catalysts supported on Y-stabilized ZrO2 is a structure sensitive reaction. Y2O3 additive plays a role in improving the thermal stability of Pt particles through the metal–support interaction, while it does not alter the catalytic performance of Pt as catalytic active sites.

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► Pt particles supported on Y–ZrO2 are stabilized in highly dispersed state.
► Pt/Y–ZrO2 showed higher activity than Pt/ZrO2 for n-C4H10 oxidation.
► n-C4H10 oxidation over Pt/Y–ZrO2 is a structure sensitive reaction.
► Y2O3 additive improves thermal stability of Pt through the metal–support interaction.