Au Nanoclusters on Vanadium-Doped ZrO2 Nanoparticles for Propylene Oxidation: An Investigation into the Impact of V

V-doped ZrO2 support materials were synthesized through a hydrothermal method, followed by a deposition-precipitation process to load Au clusters using an H4AuClO4 precursor. This study investigated the impact of vanadium doping on propylene epoxidation over the corresponding Au-supported catalysts. Vanadium incorporation significantly enhanced propylene conversion and promoted acrolein production, leading to reduced propylene oxide selectivity. Propylene epoxidation at higher temperatures accelerated the decomposition of oxygenates into CO2. Vanadium addition to ZrO2 altered the interactions between Au and V-doped ZrO2, thereby modifying the chemical states of Zr, Au, and V and forming surface oxygen vacancies and active oxygen species. These changes defined the catalytic performance of the materials.