Confined Manganese-Based Catalysts for Gaseous Pollutant Removal: A Critical Review

Manganese-based materials are widely applied as catalysts for catalytic removal of gaseous pollutants due to their low cost and excellent redox performance. However, existing challenges such as unsatisfactory activity and stability hinder the application of manganese-based catalysts. Confining manganese-based materials into specific regions has the potential to influence intermolecular arrangement and mass diffusion and lower the activation energy barrier, thereby enhancing reaction stability and the catalyst’s activity. In this critical review, we briefly summarize the common reported nanoconfined manganese-based analogues for gaseous pollutant elimination including nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Details of the commonly reported hosts for confined catalysts and their impact on catalytic behavior and an in-depth discussion of the related mechanism are included. Through this critical review, we aim to raise the research attention on using confined catalysis as a fundamental guide or even tool to improve the catalytic performance of gaseous pollutant elimination.