Restructuring of supported Pd by green solvents: an operando Quick EXAFS (QEXAFS) study and implications for the derivation of structure-function relationships in Pd catalysis
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is commonly used as an ex-situ technique to determine structural changes by comparing images of catalyst particles before and after a reaction. This requires the use of an alcoholic solvent to disperse the particles on a grid. In this work, we will show that Pd catalysts can be transformed during the procedure, by using EXAFS to determine the structure of Pd catalysts in different environments (as dry or wet samples). Supported palladium nanoparticles exposed to aqueous ethanolic solution (50% w/v) are transformed to a common, reduced, and hydrogen-contaminated state, irrespective of their initial habit or support. Catalysts comprised of nanosize PdO are reduced at ca. 350 K, whereas samples comprised of very small (ca. ≤ 10 atoms) Pd particles react with the solvent at just above room temperature and agglomerating with considerable loss of dispersion. As such any potential benefits to catalysis sought through the synthesis of very highly dispersed metallic Pd supported upon a range of inorganic dispersants will be rapidly erased through the action of such solvents.
Date Issued
2016-12-21
Date Acceptance
2016-11-12
Citation
Catalysis Science & Technology, 2016, 6, pp.8525-8531
ISSN
2044-4753
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
8525
End Page
8531
Journal / Book Title
Catalysis Science & Technology
Volume
6
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/G070172/1
EP/L003279/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Physical
Chemistry
X-RAY-ABSORPTION
SELECTION GUIDES
LIGAND-FREE
NANOPARTICLES
PALLADIUM
HYDROGEN
OXIDATION
ALCOHOLS
ETHYLENE
CLUSTERS
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-11-14