Intriguing MnO x Decorated CeO 2 Hollow Microspheres with Abundant Interfaces and Phase Boundaries Toward Styrene Oxidation

Transitional metal oxides have attracted substantial research interest due to their diverse catalytic effects and relatively low costs compared with those of precious metals. We herein report the facile construction of MnO x decorated CeO 2 hollow microspheres with rich interfaces and phase boundaries, displaying superior reaction performance than the pristine CeO 2 in the selective oxidation of styrene. The MnO x -CeO 2 composite catalyst presents intensive electronic interaction and abundant oxygen vacancies anchored at the interfacial sites, which is beneficial for the generation of active oxygen species with high mobility and reactivity. The intimately contacted MnO x species act as engines to promote the oxygen transfer process and the Ce 3+ ↔ Ce 4+ cyclic process during the oxidation. This work opens up a new avenue for the rational design of unique metallic oxide catalysts toward organic oxidation transformation. Graphical Abstract Intriguing MnO x decorated CeO 2 hollow microspheres display superior reaction performance than the pristine CeO 2 in the selective oxidation of styrene.