Intriguing MnOx Decorated CeO2 Hollow Microspheres with Abundant Interfaces and Phase Boundaries Toward Styrene Oxidation

Transitional metal oxides have attracted substantial research interest due to their diverse catalytic effects and relatively low costs compared with those of precious metals. We herein report the facile construction of MnOx decorated CeO2 hollow microspheres with rich interfaces and phase boundaries, displaying superior reaction performance than the pristine CeO2 in the selective oxidation of styrene. The MnOx-CeO2 composite catalyst presents intensive electronic interaction and abundant oxygen vacancies anchored at the interfacial sites, which is beneficial for the generation of active oxygen species with high mobility and reactivity. The intimately contacted MnOx species act as engines to promote the oxygen transfer process and the Ce3+ <-> Ce4+ cyclic process during the oxidation. This work opens up a new avenue for the rational design of unique metallic oxide catalysts toward organic oxidation transformation. [GRAPHICS] .