Ferric Oxide-Supported Pt Subnano Clusters for Preferential Oxidation of CO in H2-Rich Gas at Room Temperature

Pt single atoms and small clusters were dispersed on iron oxides by a facile coprecipitation method. These catalysts, with or without calcination at elevated temperatures, show excellent activity and selectivity for preferential oxidation of CO in the H2-rich gas. They can completely remove CO from H2-rich gas at a wide temperature range of 20–70 °C, which renders them suitable for low-temperature applications. The reaction followed a mixture of competitive mechanism and a noncompetitive/redox mechanism. The weakened CO adsorption on small Pt clusters and atoms makes the competitive adsorption of O2 feasible, which ensures a high activity of Pt/Fe catalysts, even calcined at elevated temperature.