Strong metal-support interactions induced by an ultrafast laser

Abstract Supported metal catalysts play a crucial role in the modern industry. Constructing strong metal-support interactions (SMSI) is an effective means of regulating the interfacial properties of noble metal-based supported catalysts. Here, we propose a new strategy of ultrafast laser-induced SMSI that can be constructed on a CeO 2 -supported Pt system by confining electric field in localized interface. The nanoconfined field essentially boosts the formation of surface defects and metastable CeO x migration. The SMSI is evidenced by covering Pt nanoparticles with the CeO x thin overlayer and suppression of CO adsorption. The overlayer is permeable to the reactant molecules. Owing to the SMSI, the resulting Pt/CeO 2 catalyst exhibits enhanced activity and stability for CO oxidation. This strategy of constructing SMSI can be extended not only to other noble metal systems (such as Au/TiO 2 , Pd/TiO 2 , and Pt/TiO 2 ) but also on non-reducible oxide supports (such as Pt/Al 2 O 3 , Au/MgO, and Pt/SiO 2 ), providing a universal way to engineer and develop high-performance supported noble metal catalysts.