Synergistic Dual Atomically Dispersed PdCu Immobilized on Peroxide-Modified Attapulgite for Low-Temperature Catalytic Oxidation of VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) represent a significant threat to both environmental quality and public health, driving the need for efficient abatement technologies. Herein, a series of PdCu dual single-atom catalysts supported on peroxide-modified attapulgite (ATP) were synthesized via a microwave-assisted solvothermal approach, and the effect of the Pd/Cu ratio on the catalytic oxidation of toluene was investigated. Results showed that the Pd1Cu1/ATP catalyst exhibited exceptional catalytic performance, achieving 99% toluene conversion at 240 °C under a high weight hourly space velocity of 20,000 mL·g−1·h−1. This high efficiency is attributed to the modification of ATP with hydrogen peroxide solution, which exposes abundant Si-OH, facilitating the immobilization of atomically dispersed atoms and enhancing the adsorption of toluene molecules. In addition, the strong metal–support interaction between the PdCu dual atoms and the ATP support significantly lowers the energy barrier of the reaction, thereby enhancing the low-temperature catalytic activity. In situ DRIFTS further elucidated the reaction pathway and intermediate evolution during toluene oxidation. This work offers an effective strategy for designing highly efficient dual single-atom catalysts for VOCs removal.