LAUSR

Abstract NaOH-promoted Pt/TiO2 catalysts are successfully prepared by a facile impregnation method assisted by NaOH and tested for the toluene oxidation reaction under visible light irradiation. Keeping molar ratio of Pt:Na = 1:8, the 0.1Pt-Na/TiO2 catalyst (0.1 mol% Pt) shows excellent catalytic performance with more than 60% of toluene conversion at 45 °C and achieving total toluene removal at 280 °C, which is significantly better than 0.1Pt/TiO2 catalyst. The structures and properties of catalysts are characterized by XRD, SEM, N2 adsorption, XPS and UV–vis spectra. The positively charged Pt species stabilized by NaOH are the most active sites for photo-thermal catalyzing toluene oxidation. The influence of Pt loading and the effect of supports (active TiO2 and inert Al2O3) are also discussed.