Nanocage‐Shaped Co 3− x Zr x O 4 Solid‐Solution Supports Loaded with Pt Nanoparticles as Effective Catalysts for the Enhancement of Toluene Oxidation

Nanocage‐shaped Co 3− x Zr x O 4 solid‐solution supports and the corresponding platinum loaded nanocomposites, y Pt/Co 3− x Zr x O 4 ( x  =0.27, 0.50, 0.69; y = 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 wt.%), are successfully fabricated via a Cu 2 O nanocube hard template method and a glycol reduction method, respectively. The hollow nanocage structures obviously improve surface areas; moreover, the Zr doping forms the Co 3− x Zr x O 4 solid‐solution supports, and the corresponding y Pt/Co 3− x Zr x O 4 catalysts promote the enhancement of catalytic performance. Catalytic activity toward toluene combustion is enhanced for the 2.0 wt% Pt/Co 2.73 Zr 0.27 O 4 catalyst. The catalysts are characterized using multiple techniques. Pt nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed across the Co 2.73 Zr 0.27 O 4 nanocage surface. The 2.0 wt% Pt/Co 2.73 Zr 0.27 O 4 catalyst exhibits the highest catalytic activity among all the samples and demonstrates good stability, with 90% toluene conversion obtained at a temperature of 165 °C. The same catalyst accomplishes full toluene oxidation at 180 °C, at a weight hourly space velocity of 36 000 mL h −1 g −1 . The apparent activation energy ( E a ) over the y Pt/Co 2.73 Zr 0.27 O 4 samples are significantly lower than those over the Co 3− x Zr x O 4 supports, with the 2.0 wt% Pt/Co 2.73 Zr 0.27 O 4 catalyst exhibiting the lowest E a value. These findings demonstrate the potential of the 2.0 wt% Pt/Co 2.73 Zr 0.27 O 4 catalyst as a promising catalyst toward atmospheric toluene removal.