Tuning the Structure of Platinum Particles on Ceria In Situ for Enhancing the Catalytic Performance of Exhaust Gas Catalysts

Abstract A dynamic structural behavior of Pt nanoparticles on the ceria surface under reducing/oxidizing conditions was found at moderate temperatures (<500 °C) and exploited to enhance the catalytic activity of Pt/CeO 2 ‐based exhaust gas catalysts. Redispersion of platinum in an oxidizing atmosphere already occurred at 400 °C. A protocol with reducing pulses at 250–400 °C was applied in a subsequent step for controlled Pt‐particle formation. Operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy unraveled the different extent of reduction and sintering of Pt particles: The choice of the reductant allowed the tuning of the reduction degree/particle size and thus the catalytic activity (CO>H 2 >C 3 H 6 ). This dynamic nature of Pt on ceria at such low temperatures (250–500 °C) was additionally confirmed by in situ environmental transmission electron microscopy. A general concept is proposed to adjust the noble metal dispersion (size, structure), for example, during operation of an exhaust gas catalyst.