Characterization of the Active Sites on Pt-Loaded ZSM-5 (Pt/ZSM-5) Prepared by an Ion-Exchange Method for the Oxidation of CO at Low Temperatures

Highly dispersed Pt-loaded ZSM-5 (Pt/ZSM-5) catalysts were prepared by a combination of ion-exchange and thermal pretreatment in different temperatures under vacuum. Highly dispersed ion-exchanged Pt²⁺ ions were reduced into Pt⁺ and then Pt⁰, sustaining their high dispersion state with an increase in the thermal pretreatment temperatures up to 773 K. Thus, prepared Pt⁰ highly dispersed in the cavities of ZSM-5 exhibited high catalytic activity for the oxidation of CO with N₂O at 273?K. However, pretreatment at temperatures higher than 973 K led to the aggregation of highly dispersed Pt⁰ clusters, resulting in a decrease in the catalytic activity for low-temperature oxidation.