Bifunctional-boron incorporated mesocrystalline CeO2 for enhanced catalytic ozonation benzene at room temperature

Room-temperature catalytic decomposition of aromatic volatile organic compounds driven by ozone (O3) presents a sustainable pathway for air purification yet challenging in the insufficient O3 utilization and sluggish electron transfer. Herein, we demonstrated that bifunctional boron (B) incorporated in mesocrystalline CeO2 (B/ meso-CeO2) could act as both adsorption enhancement and electron shuttles to facilitate the ozonation of benzene. Under the ambient conditions, B/meso-CeO2 delivered a near-unit C6H6 conversion (96.4 %) with a CO2 selectivity of 46.5 % and an optimal theoretical molar ratio (6:1) of O3 to C6H6, significantly surpassing that of meso-CeO2 with abundant oxygen vacancy. Comprehensive characterizations and theoretical calculations revealed that meso-CeO2 with incorporated B atoms could promote the concurrent chemisorption of C6H6 and O3 owing to the strengthened Lewis acidity. Meanwhile, B atoms functioning as the electron shuttle enabled to steer electrons ' flow from the bonded Ce atoms towards the adsorbed O3 molecules, thus facilitating the decomposition of O3 and generation of reactive monatomic oxygen (O*) toward catalytic oxidation of C6H6. This study underscores the importance of regulating Lewis acidity of CeO2 through surface atomic engineering towards roomtemperature catalytic ozonation for aromatic volatile organic compounds abatement and air purification.