Highly effective La-deficient La1-xCexMnO3 mixed oxides for the complete oxidation of methane

La-deficient La1-xCexMnO3 mixed oxides, obtained by selective dissolution in 1 ​M nitric acid, were employed in methane complete oxidation. The majority of the La cations in these perovskites were removed, resulting in increased specific surface areas, better reducibility and greater activity. Incorporation of a small amount of Ce stabilized the structure and a perovskite phase persisted in La-deficient La1-xCexMnO3 mixed oxides after 12 ​h of acid dissolution. La0.95Ce0.05MnO3 after the acid treatment exhibited satisfactory catalytic activity, with T50 and T90 values of 365 and 459 ​°C, respectively, which was even comparable to that previously reported 1% Pd/Al2O3 catalysts. And it showed excellent long-term activity even in the presence of CO2 and H2O.