Au-Pd supported nanocrystals prepared by a sol immobilisation technique as catalysts for selective chemical synthesis.
Catalysis by gold and gold-palladium nanoparticles has attracted significant research attention in recent years. These nanocrystalline materials have been found to be highly effective for selective and total oxidation, but in most cases the catalysts are prepared using precipitation or impregnation. We report the preparation of Au-Pd nanocrystalline catalysts supported on carbon prepared via a sol-immobilisation technique and these have been compared with Au-Pd catalysts prepared via impregnation. The catalysts have been evaluated for two selective chemical syntheses, namely, oxidation of benzyl alcohol and the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide. The catalysts have been structurally characterised using a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalysts prepared using the sol immobilisation technique show higher activity when compared with catalysts prepared by impregnation as they are more active for both hydrogen peroxide synthesis and hydrogenation, and also for benzyl alcohol oxidation. The method facilitates the use of much lower metal concentrations which is a key feature in catalyst design, particularly for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide.
Lopez-Sanchez
Jose Antonio
JA
School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, UK.
Dimitratos
Nikolaos
N
Miedziak
Peter
P
Ntainjua
Edwin
E
Edwards
Jennifer K
JK
Morgan
David
D
Carley
Albert F
AF
Tiruvalam
Ramchandra
R
Kiely
Christopher J
CJ
Hutchings
Graham J
GJ
D019905:Benzyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D014965:X-Rays
D010165:Palladium; D006046:Gold; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol