Who Does the Job? How Copper Can Replace Noble Metals in Sustainable Catalysis by the Formation of Copper–Mixed Oxide Interfaces

Abstract

Following the need for an innovative catalyst and material design in catalysis, we provide a comparative approach using pure and Pd-doped LaCu <i>_x</i> Mn_1-<i>x</i> O₃ (<i>x</i> = 0.3 and 0.5) perovskite catalysts to elucidate the beneficial role of the Cu/perovskite and the promoting effect of Cu <i>_y</i> Pd <i>_x</i> /perovskite interfaces developing <i>in situ</i> under model NO + CO reaction conditions. The observed bifunctional synergism in terms of activity and N₂ selectivity is essentially attributed to an oxygen-deficient perovskite interface, which provides efficient NO activation sites in contact with <i>in situ</i> exsolved surface-bound monometallic Cu and bimetallic CuPd nanoparticles. The latter promotes the decomposition of the intermediate N₂O at low temperatures, enhancing the selectivity toward N₂. We show that the intelligent Cu/perovskite interfacial design is the prerequisite to effectively replace noble metals by catalytically equally potent metal-mixed-oxide interfaces. We have provided the proof of principle for the NO + CO test reaction but anticipate the extension to a universal concept applicable to similar materials and reactions.