Boosted 1,3-dichlorobenzene catalytic destruction over P-Co-LaCoO₃ by rational engineering the Co^3 +−O−Co²⁺ and LaPO₄ species

Avoiding toxic chlorinated by-products formation and chlorine poisoning are longstanding challenges in developing efficacious catalysts for chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) destruction. Herein, we developed a surface engineering strategy to construct the Co³⁺−O−Co²⁺ and LaPO₄ species over P-Co-LaCoO₃ (P-Co-LCO), which remarkably promotes 1,3-dichlorobenzene (1,3-DCB) low-temperature deep destruction. Characterizations reveal that Co³⁺−O−Co²⁺ promotes the formation of oxygen vacancies and the mobility of reactive oxygen species (O₂⁻), while LaPO₄ accelerates Cl desorption. By balancing the ratio of Co³⁺−O−Co²⁺/LaPO₄, the C−Cl activation and Cl desorption are significantly facilitated on P-Co-LCO, resulting in excellent synergistic catalytic performance, achieving 90 % conversion of 1,3-DCB at 350 °C (150 °C lower than LaCoO₃), maintaining superior stability, and reducing surface chlorine deposition and toxic by-products by 54 % and 62 %, respectively, compared with LaCoO₃. Specially, H₂O molecules greatly promote C−Cl cleavage and inhibit chlorinated by-products generation (reduces by 90 %), showcasing significant application potentials of P-Co-LCO towards industrial CVOC purification.