Direct Z-scheme La_1-xCe_xMnO₃ catalyst for photothermal degradation of toluene

A series of Ce-doped LaMnO₃ (La_1-xCe_xMnO₃) were prepared and were tested for gaseous toluene oxidation in order to investigate the effect of cerium doping in LaMnO₃ on activity under photothermal conditions. It was found that the activity and CO₂ yield of the catalyst can be effectively increased when x = 0.25. A group of characterization is used to characterize the morphology, composition, and physical properties of the as-prepared catalysts. Results show that the Ce-doped LaMnO₃ can form coexistence of La_1-xCe_xMnO₃ and CeO₂, the reaction of CeO₂/La_1-xCe_xMnO₃ under photothermal conditions follows the Mars-van Krevelen redox cycle mechanism, and the prepared CeO₂/La_1-xCe_xMnO₃ can form a highly efficient Z-scheme heterojunction, which can enhance the electrons transfer speed of the catalyst. Moreover, in the photothermal catalytic degradation, lattice oxygen is the most important active substance, a small amount of cerium doping can increase the lattice oxygen content of perovskite and increase the activity of the reaction.