Investigation of the preparation methodologies of Pd-Cu single atom alloy catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene

Galvanic replacement, co-impregnation and sequential impregnation have been employed to prepare Pd-Cu bimetallic catalysts with less than 1 wt-% Cu and ca. 0.03 wt-% Pd for selective hydrogenation of acetylene in excess ethylene. High angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and H₂ chemisorption results confirmed that Pd-Cu single-atom alloy structures were constructed in all three bimetallic catalysts. Catalytic tests indicated that when the conversion of acetylene was above 99%, the selectivity of ethylene of these three single atom alloy catalysts was still more than 73%. Furthermore, the single atom alloy catalyst prepared by sequential incipient wetness impregnation was found to have the best stability among the three procedures used.     

Nano-structured CeO2 supported Cu-Pd bimetallic catalysts for the oxygen-assisted water–gas-shift reaction

The present work focuses on the development of novel Cu-Pd bimetallic catalysts supported on nano-sized high-surface-area CeO₂ for the oxygen-assisted water–gas-shift (OWGS) reaction. High-surface-area CeO₂ was synthesized by urea gelation (UG) and template-assisted (TA) methods. The UG method offered CeO₂ with a BET surface area of about 215 m²/g, significantly higher than that of commercially available CeO₂. Cu and Pd were supported on CeO₂ synthesized by the UG and TA methods and their catalytic performance in the OWGS reaction was investigated systematically. Catalysts with about 30 wt% Cu and 1 wt% Pd were found to exhibit a maximum CO conversion close to 100%. The effect of metal loading method and the influence of CeO₂ support on the catalytic performance were also investigated. The results indicated that Cu and Pd loaded by incipient wetness impregnation (IWI) exhibited better performance than that prepared by deposition–precipitation (DP) method. The difference in the catalytic activity was related to the lower Cu surface concentration, better Cu–Ce and Pd–Ce interactions and improved reducibility of Cu and Pd in the IWI catalyst as determined by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) studies. A direct relation between BET surface area of the CeO₂ support and CO conversion was also observed. The Cu-Pd bimetallic catalysts supported on high-surface-area CeO₂ synthesized by UG method exhibited at least two-fold higher CO conversion than the commercial CeO₂ or that obtained by TA method. The catalyst retains about 100% CO conversion even under extremely high H₂ concentration.     

Oxidation state of bimetallic PdCu catalysts during liquid phase nitrate reduction

The oxidation state and the structural properties of Al₂O₃-supported bimetallic PdCu catalysts during the catalytic reduction of KNO₃ carried out in the aqueous phase were investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Under reaction conditions the noble metal component (Pd) was in a reduced state, while the less noble metal (Cu) was found to be partially oxidized. A PdCu phase was formed in the bimetallic catalysts, which appears to be located in small domains on the surface of Pd rich particles. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hydrodenitrification with PdCu Catalysts: Catalyst Optimization by Experimental and Quantum Chemical Approaches

A continuous process for nitrate and nitrite abatement from drinking water by catalytic hydrogenation has been developed in our lab. We describe the experimental process development procedure, and support it with semiempirical quantum chemical methods. Comparisons of activated carbon (ACC) and silica glass fiber (GFC) cloths as supports for mono- and bimetallic Pd-Cu catalysts show the former to be 45-fold and 15-fold more active for nitrite and nitrate hydrogenation, respectively, than the latter. Catalysts prepared by selective deposition of Cu on Pd/ACC led to better activity for nitrate hydrogenation than catalysts prepared by co-impregnation or ion exchange methods. The optimal Cu:Pd atomic ratio was found to be 1:2. The computational results show the following: (i) The dispersion of Pd catalysts supported on ACC is much higher than that on GFC due to the larger surface area and higher density of adsorption sites, and that accounts for the higher activity of PdCu/ACC; (ii) Nanosized Pd particles supported on ACC have a semispherical shape and possess preferentially close-packed triangular surfaces, while Pd/GFC particles are extended in the direction parallel to the support surface and show both fcc (100) and (111) planes; (iii) The interaction of Cu atoms with both supports is stronger than that of Pd; adsorbed Cu atoms show a greater ability to form monometallic than bimetallic bonds and that should result in poor mixing of the metal upon co-impregnation, as was observed experimentally; (iv) Cu atoms in bimetallic PdCu particles admit a significant positive charge; the experimentally measured solubility of metal atoms correlates with their calculated charges. The best catalyst (2 wt%Pd-0.6 wt%Cu/ACC) was employed in a novel continuous flow reactor for nitrate hydrogenation in distilled and tap water. The advantages of the reactor investigated over a conventional packed bed reactor are discussed, suggesting a potential for further process intensification.     

Pd-Cu/γ-Al_2O_3双金属催化剂脱除水中硝酸盐

采用分步浸渍法和共浸渍法制备系列Pd负载质量分数为1%的Pd-Cu/γ-Al2O3双金属催化剂,以氢气为还原剂研究其对水中硝酸盐催化脱除的性能。结果表明,催化剂中Cu与Pd物质的量比以及Cu、Pd的浸渍顺序对催化剂性能有重要影响,硝酸根转化率随着Cu与Pd物质的量比的增大而增大;硝酸根转化活性以Cu与Pd物质的量比为5∶1、先浸渍Pd再浸渍Cu所得催化剂较优;从氨氮选择性方面看,以先浸渍Cu后浸渍Pd制备的催化剂选择性较低,在Cu与Pd物质的量比为1∶1、先浸渍Cu再浸渍Pd所得催化剂较优。     

水滑石负载型PdCu催化剂的制备及性能

以掺杂Cu的类水滑石(Cu-HTs)作为载体,Cu-HTs中高分散的构晶离子Cu~(2+)作为定位剂,利用Cu和Pd间的强相互作用,诱导Pd原子定位分散在载体表面,得到小尺寸和高分散的PdCu双金属纳米催化剂。采用XRD、STEM、XPS、HRTEM等对催化剂结构、物相及组成进行表征。结果表明,PdCu/HTs的纳米颗粒尺寸约为2.4 nm,分散度达36.7%,形成PdCu合金。在苯甲醇氧化反应中考察PdCu/HTs催化剂的性能,苯甲醇可实现完全转化,苯甲醛产率达97%。     

The synergic effects of highly selective bimetallic Pt-Pd/SAPO-41 catalysts for the n-hexadecane hydroisomerization

The hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane over Pt-Pd bimetallic catalysts is an effective way to produce clean fuel oil. This work reports a useful preparation method of bimetallic bifunctional catalysts by a co-impregnation or sequential impregnation process. Furthermore, monometallic catalysts with loading either Pt or Pd are also prepared for comparison. The effects of the metal species and impregnation order on the characteristics and catalytic performance of the catalysts are investigated. The catalytic test results indicate that the maximum iso-hexadecane yield over different catalysts increases as follows: Pt/silicoaluminophosphate SAPO-41iso-hexadecane yield of 89.4% when the n-hexadecane conversion is 96.3%. Additionally, the Pt-Pd/SAPO-41 catalyst also presents the highest catalytic activity and best stability even after 150 h long-term tests.     

Catalytic performance and QXAFS analysis of Ni catalysts modified with Pd for oxidative steam reforming of methane

Pd–Ni bimetallic catalysts prepared by co-impregnation and sequential impregnation methods were compared in the catalytic performance in oxidative steam reforming of methane. The sequential impregnation was more effective to the suppression of hot spot formation. According to the structural analysis by in situ quick-scanning X-ray absorption fine structure (QXAFS) during the temperature programmed reduction, the sequential impregnation method gave the bimetallic particles with higher Pd surface composition because of the low possibility of the Pd–Ni bond formation. Higher surface composition of Pd with higher reducibility than Ni is connected to the enhancement of the catalyst reducibility and the suppression of the hot spot formation.     

FTIR study of the oxidation reaction of CO with O2 over bimetallic Pd–Rh/SiO2 catalysts in an oxidized state

CO species adsorbed on the surface of oxidized bimetallic Rh–Pd catalysts, prepared by coimpregnation and sequential impregnation methods, were analyzed in situ by IR spectroscopy, during the reaction of CO with O₂ in an oxidizing atmosphere. The results show that the two methods of impregnation lead to the existence of oxidized Rh on the surface of the bimetallic catalyst, however, in the case of the sequential impregnation method, the Pd surface is more reduced than in the case of catalysts prepared by coimpregnation. The simultaneous presence of reduced Pd and oxidized Rh that occurs in the catalysts prepared by sequential impregnation allows the existence of a synergistic effect similar to that proposed in the literature for the Pt–Rh system. The lower degree of oxidation of the Pd in the catalysts prepared by sequential impregnation, is mainly due to the fact that the Pd in these catalysts comes from the organic precursor palladium acetylacetonate, while in the catalysts prepared by coimpregnation, the Pd comes from the precursor PdCl₂. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Novel mesoporous aluminosilicate supported palladium-rhodium catalysts for diesel upgrading: I. Preparation and characterisation

Bimetallic PdRh (with Pd/Rh mole ratio = 2/1) catalysts supported on a mesoporous aluminosilicate have been prepared and three methods of metal incorporation in the support have been compared: direct incorporation into the synthesis gel, impregnation and ion-exchange. Physico-chemical characterisations (nitrogen adsorption–desorption, hydrogen chemisorption, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopies), as well as simulated coking and regeneration tests are described. The dispersion, metal particle size and the formation of bimetallic particles within the material depend on the method of metal incorporation. Direct incorporation and ion-exchange methods lead to co-existence of PdRh intermetallic aggregates and segregated Pd; on the other hand, the impregnation method leads to the formation of very small and well dispersed PdRh alloy particles, with Pd preferentially located on the alloy particle surface.     

Synergism and kinetics in CO oxidation over palladium-rhodium bimetallic catalysts

The activity and kinetics of CO oxidation over alumina-supported Pd-Rh bimetallic catalysts were investigated. One bimetallic catalyst, Pd-Rh(2), was prepared by two-step impregnation and another, Pd-Rh(l), by simultaneous impregnation. Monometallic catalysts as well as a physical mixture of them were also prepared. The catalysts were characterized by selective chemisorption of both H₂ and CO, and an attempt was made to determine the surface compositions of the bimetallic catalysts. The bimetallic catalysts showed different kinetic behavior, such as higher turnover frequencies (TOFs), lower apparent activation energies and/or negative reaction orders for CO which were smaller in the absolute value, from that of the monometallic catalysts as well as a physical mixture of them. It is suggested that this Pd-Rh synergism is due to an interaction on the catalyst surface, such that adsorbed CO or oxygen on one metal migrates to the other metal site so that the reaction rate is facilitated and also that the particles of Pd and Rh are located close enough to each other for the interaction to occur. On the surface of Pd-Rh (2) most of the Pd and Rh particles existed as separate entities, while a great portion of the particles on Pd-Rh(l) exhibited the surface enrichment of Pd. This explains the higher TOF and the negative reaction orders for CO over Pd-Rh(2) which were smaller in the absolute value than those over Pd-Rh(l).     

Superior catalytic behaviour of Pt-doped Pd catalysts in the complete oxidation of methane at low temperature

The catalytic combustion of methane at low temperature under lean conditions was investigated over bimetallic palladium-platinum catalysts supported on alumina. Pd-Pt catalysts with constant 2 wt.% metal loading and varying compositions in Pt and Pd were prepared by successive impregnations of the metal salts. The catalysts were characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy/electron dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (TEM/EDX), volumetry of H₂ chemisorption, FTIR study of CO adsorption and temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO). In the absence of water added to the feed, the methane conversion over Pd-rich bimetallic catalysts (Pt/Pt + Pd molar ratios less than 0.3) was found to be the same as that of the reference Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Interestingly, under wet conditions, these bimetallic catalysts exhibited an improved performance with respect to Pd/Al₂O₃. This effect was found to be maintained upon mild steam ageing. An interaction between both metals was suggested to explain the enhanced activity of bimetallic catalysts. This was confirmed by TPO experiments indicating that formation and decomposition of PdO is affected upon Pt addition even for very low amounts of Pt. The adsorption of CO on reduced catalysts studied by FTIR revealed new types of adsorbed CO species, suggesting again an interaction between two metals.     

Niobic acid and niobium phosphate as highly acidic viable catalysts in aqueous medium: Fructose dehydration reaction

All silicious MCM-41 was investigated as a support or a support precursor for Pd/SiO₂ and prepared catalysts were tested for methanol synthesis from CO and H₂. The methods of Pd loading on the MCM-41 were impregnation, seed impregnation and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). For both impregnations, most Pd existed outside of the pore as large particles, and only a small part of Pd was inserted into the pore of MCM-41 retaining the initial structure. On the contrary, in the catalyst prepared by CVD method, the MCM-41 structure was completely destroyed to become amorphous SiO₂. Yet the average Pd particle size in this catalyst was smaller and its distribution was narrower than those of the catalysts prepared by impregnation methods. In the methanol synthesis from CO hydrogenation the catalyst prepared by CVD showed higher methanol selectivity than other MCM-41-derived catalysts. This result was considered to be due to the more uniform distribution of the Pd particle size.     

Preparation of catalyst Pd-Au/1cTiO2/SiO2 and epoxidation of olefins

Two kinds of Pd-Au bimetallic nanocatalysts (0.01% Pd-Au/1cTiO₂/SiO₂ and 0.05% Pd-Au/1cTiO₂/SiO₂) were prepared by using 1cTiO₂/SiO₂ as support, which had a single layer TiO₂ thin film on SiO₂ substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. Deposition of Au and Pd on 1cTiO₂/SiO₂ was carried out by means of deposition precipitation and impregnation. Au loading of the two catalysts was both 0.01%(mass), and the Pd loading were 0.01% and 0.05% respectively. The prepared catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the morphology of nanoparticles, the chemical valence state and composition of Pd and Au elements were determined. The Pd-Au bimetallic nanocatalysts were used in the selective epoxidation of cyclohexene using oxygen as oxidant, and the conditions such as the reaction solvent, the type of co-reductant and the reaction temperature were screened. The applicability of the catalyst to different structural olefins was investigated under the optimized reaction conditions. For cyclic olefins, the substrate conversion rate is greater than 95%, and the epoxy product selectivity is greater than 91%. After the catalyst is recycled 5 times, the catalytic activity and reaction selectivity remain unchanged.     

Pd-Au/1cTiO2/SiO2催化剂的制备及其烯烃的环氧化性能

使用沉淀沉积法及溶液浸渍法分别将Au和Pd纳米粒子负载在原子层沉积法制备的1cTiO₂/SiO₂载体上,制备出两种不同Pd负载量的Pd-Au双金属活性中心纳米催化剂。采用TEM、EDX、XPS对所制备的催化剂进行了详细的表征,确定了纳米粒子的形貌、Pd-Au元素的化学价态和组成。测试了该类催化剂在以氧气为氧源的环己烯环氧化反应中的活性和选择性,并对反应溶剂、共还原剂种类、反应温度等条件进行了筛选。在优化后的反应条件下考察了该催化剂对不同结构烯烃的适用性。对于环状烯烃,底物转化率均大于95%,环氧产物选择性均大于91%。催化剂在循环回收5次后,催化活性和反应选择性保持不变。     

用溶剂化金属原子浸渍法制备的高分散负载型催化剂Pd－Cu／C的结构与性质

应用溶剂化金属原子浸渍（ＳＭＡＩ）法制备了三种金属含量比不同的Ｐｄ－Ｃｕ／Ｃ双金属催化剂。经ＸＲＤ和ＴＥＭ测定结果表明，催化剂中Ｐｄ和Ｃｕ已形成合金，合金颗粒平均直径小于５ｎｍ。ＸＰＳ和Ａｕｇｅｒ谱说明Ｐｄ和Ｃｕ均以零价态存在。在亚异丙基丙酮（ＣＨ＿３）＿２Ｃ＝ＣＨＣＯＣＨ＿３加氢反应中，随着催化剂中Ｃｕ比例增加，催化活性增大，而生成六碳酮的选择性基本不变。     

Al-pillared clay supported CuPd catalysts for nitrate reduction

PdCu catalysts on clay and Al-pillared clay supports were prepared by wet impregnation procedure and characterized by powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscope Dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The incorporation of [Al₁₃O₄(OH)₂₄(H₂O) ₁₂]⁷⁺ clusters in the clay interlayers and subsequent formation of Al-pillared clays was confirmed from PXRD patterns. The EDAX analysis indicated good homogeneous mix of metallic components, in the form of monometallic or inhomogeneous bimetallic particles, on the clay and pillared clay surfaces. TEM pictures showed striking particle size differences upon Al₂O₃-pillaring. The metallic particles were much smaller in size on Al-pillared clay than those formed on parent clay. The clay supported PdCu catalysts were tested for nitrate ion reduction in aqueous phase under hydrogen atmosphere. Preliminary results show that the catalysts with Pd and Cu components together exhibit superior performance in activity and selectivity to nitrogen compared to their monometallic particles supported on both clay samples. This study indicates the possibility of using PdCu catalysts supported on pillared clays as environmental friendly and efficient catalysts for nitrate reduction reactions.     

Hydrogenation of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene over Cu–Pd/SiO2 catalysts prepared by electroless deposition

Electroless deposition has been used to prepare Cu–Pd/SiO₂ bimetallic catalysts wherein initial Cu coverages are limited only to the pre-existing Pd surface. Cu loading on the Pd surface can be systematically varied by modification of deposition kinetic parameters. In this case deposition time was used as the kinetic variable for the preparation of a series of Cu–Pd catalysts. These materials have been characterized using atomic absorption, CO chemisorption, and FT-IR (adsorption of CO), and then evaluated for the hydrogenation of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene, a functionalized olefin having many potential reaction pathways. Catalyst performance and characterization results suggest that Cu is not distributed in a monodisperse manner on the Pd surface, indicating the existence of autocatalytic deposition of Cu on Cu sites. The FT-IR results suggest that although CO adsorption on all sites is suppressed by Cu addition, initial Cu deposition occurs more readily on certain sites. The bimetallic Cu–Pd sites that are formed exhibit unusually high activity for EpB conversion and formation of unsaturated alcohols and aldehydes. This bimetallic effect on catalyst activity and selectivity is best explained, not by the existence of either ligand or ensemble effects, but rather by the bifunctional nature of the Cu–Pd sites present on the surface of these catalysts.     

氮修饰炭黑负载PdCu合金催化甲酸分解制氢性能研究

以氮修饰的炭黑为载体制备负载型PdCu/N-CB系列催化剂,相比较于未经氮修饰的催化剂,其催化性能显著提高,其中Pd₈Cu₂/N-CB催化剂活性最高,TOF为718.56 h^-1,并呈现良好稳定性。通过XRD、TEM、FTIR和XPS等表征分析,结果表明,经APTMS处理所制得的氮修饰载体N-CB促进了所负载的PdCu合金纳米颗粒变得细小并呈现良好的分散性,活性相PdCu合金与氮修饰的载体N-CB之间存在强相互作用,调变合金颗粒表面化学态,提高了催化剂催化甲酸分解制氢性能。通过引入过渡金属和氮修饰载体来改善负载型贵金属催化剂催化性能的方法有助于低成本高性能制氢催化剂开发。     

Hydrogen production by oxidative methanol reforming on Pd/ZnO: Catalyst preparation and supporting materials

Pd and Pd–Zn alloy were supported on various supporting materials using impregnation, co-precipitation and microemulsion methods, and their catalytic performances in oxidative methanol reforming (OMR) were investigated. Pd/ZnO exhibited much higher selectivity than either Pd/Al₂O₃ or Pd/ZrO₂ in the OMR for hydrogen production. This was attributed to the presence of Pd–Zn alloy on the ZnO support. Elemental Pd on Al₂O₃ or ZrO₂ promotes methanol decomposition reaction and increases CO formation. Using a microemulsion method, a highly selective Pd/ZnO can be obtained with much lower Pd loading than that in samples prepared by co-precipitation. Modification of Al₂O₃ with ZnO produced a ZnAl₂O₄ phase, which was found to be a good support for the Pd/ZnO catalyst. Highly active and selective Pd/ZnO/ZnAl₂O₄ catalysts for the OMR reaction, containing much lower Pd loadings have been developed by impregnation of the supports with an aqueous solution of Pd(NO₃)₂ + Zn(NO₃)₂.