Layered Na2Mn3O7 decorated by Cerium as the robust catalysts for efficient low temperature soot combustion

Removal of soot particles by highly efficient catalysts is a research hotspot, not only because the problem of air pollution, but also because the complexity of the catalytic process that involves gas-solid-solid three-phase reaction. We synthesized single atom Ce and CeO2 nanoparticles simultaneously modified layered Na2Mn3O7 catalysts for soot combustion with unprecedented catalytic performance and high resistance to water and sulfur, using low-cost raw materials and a simple preparation protocol. The synergy between the easily available adsorbed and surface reactive oxygen species and the high yield of NO2 exploitation, leads to the beneficial transition of soot combustion process from “gas-solid-solid” into “gas-gas-solid”, thereby, shifted to low temperatures. Our findings provide a pathway to the development of cheap catalysts based on transition metal oxides, avoiding application of noble metals for successful elimination of diesel exhausts at remarkably low temperatures.