Catalytic combustion of VOC on sandwich-structured Pt@ZSM-5 nanosheets prepared by controllable intercalation.

A sandwich-structured Pt@ZSM-5 nanosheets (Pt@PZN-2) was fabricated by controllable intercalating Pt nanoparticles between ZSM-5 single-layer sheets via electrostatic adsorption with ammonium ions in diquaternary ammonium surfactant, and the following calcinations. Pt clusters (ca. 4.3 nm) confined between nanosheet layers (thickness of ca. 2.9 nm) exhibits better dispersion and higher thermal stability even after high-temperature treatment, while the Pt clusters also served as pillars which well protected the inter-layers mesopores. Catalytic combustion of toluene (a model compound of large molecules VOCs) shows catalytic activity of Pt@PZN-2 is significant higher than that of Pt-loaded nanosheet ZSM-5 zeolite prepared by conventional impregnation (Pt/ZN-2). For example, the temperature at 98% toluene conversion of Pt@PZN-2 is only 176 °C which is 24 °C and 34 °C lower than that of Pt/ZN-2 and bulky ZSM-5 supported Pt by impregnation (Pt/CZ-500), respectively. Meanwhile, Pt@PZN-2 also gives 100% toluene conversion for more than 360 h at 230 °C with a higher metal stability. The good performance of Pt@PZN-2 was attributed to the high accessibility and enhanced diffusion of the bulky reactant to active site confined in the stable inter-layer mesopores resulting from the pillar of Pt nanoparticles.