Low-Temperature Propane Activation and Mineralization over a Co(3)O(4) Sub-nanometer Porous Sheet: Atomic-Level Insights

[Image: see text] Light alkanes make up a class of widespread volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bringing great environmental hazards and health concerns. However, the low-temperature catalytic destruction of light alkanes is still a great challenge to settle due to their high reaction inertness and weak polarity. Herein, a Co(3)O(4) sub-nanometer porous sheet (Co(3)O(4)-SPS) was fabricated and comprehensively compared with its bulk counterparts in the catalytic oxidation of C(3)H(8). Results demonstrated that abundant low-coordinated Co atoms on the Co(3)O(4)-SPS surface boost the activation of adsorbed oxygen and enhance the catalytic activity. Moreover, Co(3)O(4)-SPS has better surface metal properties, which is beneficial to electron transfer between the catalyst surface and the reactant molecules, promoting the interaction between C(3)H(8) molecules and dissociated O atoms and facilitating the activation of C–H bonds. Due to these, Co(3)O(4)-SPS harvests a prominent performance for C(3)H(8) destruction, 100% of which decomposed at 165 °C (apparent activation energy of 49.4 kJ mol(–1)), much better than the bulk Co(3)O(4) (450 °C and 126.9 kJ mol(–1)) and typical noble metal catalysts. Moreover, Co(3)O(4)-SPS also has excellent thermal stability and water resistance. This study deepens the atomic-level insights into the catalytic capacity of Co(3)O(4)-SPS in light alkane purification and provides references for designing efficacious catalysts for thermocatalytic oxidation reactions.