Cu–Ce Dual–Atom Sites Embedded in Zeolites Boost Resistance to Impurity Interference for Environmental Catalysis
Yanqi Chen, Penglu Wang, Wenqiang Qu, Yongjie Shen, Ya Tang, Edoardo Mariani, Yizhao Ni, Xiaonan Hu, Fuli Wang, Jin Zhang, Dengchao Peng, Xue Ding, Ming Xie, Yuejin Li, Emiliano Cortés, Dengsong Zhang
Abstract
Abstract Biodiesel, a carbon‐neutral alternative to fossil fuels, plays a vital role in decarbonizing transportation, with global production exceeding 40 million tons annually. However, its widespread use introduces elevated phosphorus and metal cations into vehicle exhaust, severely deactivating Cu‐SSZ‐13 catalysts for NO X reduction through pore blockage, framework degradation, and Cu sites loss. We present a Cu–Ce dual‐atom catalyst embedded in SSZ‐13 that maintains high performance in ammonia‐selective catalytic reduction under phosphorus‐rich conditions. Ce species, precisely positioned in eight‐membered rings, displace P‐sensitive [ZCu 2+ OH] + sites, enriching the catalyst with P‐tolerant Z 2 Cu 2 ⁺ species in six‐membered rings. Concurrent Ce─P interactions restore the electronic environment of Cu sites, enhancing NH 3 /NO adsorption and redox cycling. This design sustains 90% NO X conversion and 100% N 2 selectivity at 210 °C, even after phosphorus exposure. The strategy is broadly applicable to impurity‐sensitive environmental reactions, including NH 3 oxidation and the coupled removal of NO X with VOCs, offering a practical pathway to durable, poison‐resistant catalysts for clean and sustainable mobility.