Constructing three‐dimensional Mn2O3 catalysts with various morphologies for catalytic oxidation of benzene

Three kinds of three‐dimensional (3D) Mn 2 O 3 catalysts with different morphologies (cube, fan‐like structure, and sphere) and various exposed crystal planes were prepared by a hydrothermal method for benzene oxidation. The activity results suggested that sample Mn 2 O 3 ‐Cl with hierarchical cube morphology exhibited a better rate of benzene degradation than the other samples. Mn 2 O 3 ‐Cl exhibited the lowest complete benzene conversion temperature ( T 90 = 252°C), which was ~48°C lower than that of the Mn 2 O 3 ‐S sample. Meanwhile, the R m and R s values of Mn 2 O 3 ‐Cl were 2.71 and 3.21 times, respectively, higher than those of Mn 2 O 3 ‐S. TEM results suggested that morphology has a significant effect on crystal planes. The activity–morphology relationship over the Mn 2 O 3 samples was investigated by multiple analytical techniques. It can be concluded that the low crystallinity, superior redox ability, abundant low‐valence Mn ions, and O latt species in the Mn 2 O 3 ‐Cl catalyst were responsible for its superior catalytic activity.