The
search for efficient and durable catalysts for volatile organic
compounds oxidation is essential for environmental remediation. Herein,
porous coral-like cobalt–manganese oxide (CoMnO
x
) catalyst was synthesized through annealing Co–Mn–1,3-propanediol
precursors at 300 °C in air and applied for the catalytic oxidation
of benzene. The as-prepared CoMnO
x
exhibited
uniform porous coral-like structure, with an improved benzene catalytic
abatement performance as compared to those of Mn3O4 and Co3O4 samples prepared by the same
method, respectively. According to BET, H2-TPR, O2-TPD, and XPS analysis, the as-obtained CoMnO
x
catalyst showed the highest BET surface area, better low-reducibility
temperature, and high content of absorbed oxygen groups when compared
to Mn3O4 and Co3O4, which
makes significant contribution to its catalytic benzene oxidation
activity. Moreover, a plausible surface reaction mechanism for benzene
oxidation over CoMnO
x
catalyst was also
proposed through the in situ DRIFTS study.