Generation of abundant oxygen vacancies in Fe doped δ-MnO2 by a facile interfacial synthesis strategy for highly efficient catalysis of VOCs oxidation.

[Display omitted] • Fe doping via interfacial redox-precipitation method was effective to generate abundant oxygen vacancies over FeMn oxide catalysts. • Formation of abundant oxygen vacancies effectively improved oxygen species mobility and reducibility. • Rapid methyl dehydrogenation to form benzoate, and aromatic ring breakage are rate-controlling step for toluene oxidation. • Both adsorbed oxygen and lattice oxygen with improved mobility could participate in the toluene adsorption-oxidation process. • The oxygen vacancies could promote the C C breakage of aromatic ring. A series of homogenous Fe-Mn oxides with superior catalytic oxidation activity was developed via interfacial redox-precipitation method for eliminating VOCs from industrial waste gas. Among them, Fe 1 Mn 5 oxide achieved the optimum catalytic performance for toluene oxidation with a T 90 of 209 ℃. In addition, the catalyst demonstrated superior stability for long-time operation and great water resistance. By combining an array of analytical techniques with DFT calculations, the results revealed that Fe doping and interfacial redox-precipitation method synergistically resulted in high concentration of oxygen vacancy defect over Fe 1 Mn 5 oxide, which improved lattice oxygen mobility and oxygen species activity, thus enhancing its low temperature reducibility. Meanwhile, in situ DRIFTS analysis revealed that both the adsorbed oxygen species and lattice oxygen with improved mobility could interact with adsorbed toluene, thus facilitating rapid dehydrogenation of methyl and demethylation of toluene and promoting the breakage of C C bond in the aromatic ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]