Exceptional Activity for Methane Combustion over Modular Pd@CeO 2 Subunits on Functionalized Al 2 O 3

Addressing a Burning Issue Complete combustion of methane is required in order to avoid the unproductive emission of this greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Palladium catalysts can help to promote complete combustion, but high-temperature operating conditions also promote aggregation of catalyst particles (“sintering”) that lowers their surface area and overall activity. Cargnello et al. (p. 713 ; see the Perspective by Farrauto ) report that cerium oxide–coated Pd catalyst particles could be fully dispersed on an alumina surface prepared with a hydrophobic coating. This treatment resisted Pd sintering up to temperatures of 800°C, and also enabled complete combustion of methane to occur at temperatures as low as 400°C.