Complete oxidation of formaldehyde at ambient temperature over supported Pt/Fe2O3 catalysts prepared by colloid-deposition method

The catalytic properties of iron oxide supported platinum catalysts (Pt/Fe2O3), prepared by a colloid deposition route, were investigated for the complete oxidation of formaldehyde. It is found that all the Pt/Fe2O3 catalysts calcined at different temperatures (200-500 °C) were active for the oxidation of formaldehyde. Among them, the catalysts calcined at lower temperatures (i.e., 200 and 300 °C) exhibited relatively high catalytic activity and stability, which could completely oxidize HCHO even at room temperature. Based on a variety of physical-chemical characterization results, it is proposed that the presence of suitable interaction between Pt particles and iron oxide supports, which is mainly in the form of Pt-O-Fe bonds, should play a positive role in determining the catalytic activity and stability of the supported Pt/Fe2O3 catalysts.