Platinum deposited on 2D and 3D mesoporous silica materials for the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds: The oxidation of m-xylene and methanol

Abstract Pt particles deposited on 3D cage-type SBA-16 and 2D-hexagonal SBA-15 mesoporous silica are compared for the total oxidation of m-xylene and methanol. SBA-15 effectively controls the growth of Pt particles in hexagonal channels, producing a smaller particle size than the Pt particles in the cage-like SBA-16 mesopores. Pt particles deposited on SBA-15 provide a stronger ability to dissociate m-xylene and methanol molecules than those formed on SBA-16, thus leading to its high catalytic performance in both oxidation reactions. Regarding m-xylene oxidation, the Pt particles on SBA-15 induce the breakage of the C C bond between phenyl and methyl groups to form CO and carbonyl intermediates, thus enhancing catalytic activity. Methanol adsorbed on Pt catalysts undergoes competitive decomposition and dehydrogenation reactions to form CO and carbonyl species, respectively. SBA-15-supported Pt leads to notable CO formation while also exhibiting high activity for methanol oxidation.