Dispersion Improvement of Platinum Catalysts Supported on Silica, Silica-Alumina and Alumina by Titania Incorporation and pH Adjustment

Platinum catalysts supported on silica, silica-alumina and alumina supports were prepared using four different cationic and anionic platinum precursors in order to examine the contribution of the precursors and supports to the platinum dispersion. The pH adjustment of the precursor suspension to obtain an opposing surface charge of the support to that on the platinum precursor ions considerably improved the platinum dispersion by strengthening their adsorption on the support. However, exceptional platinum dispersion was achieved, regardless of the precursor and support, by simultaneous pH adjustment and titania incorporation on the supports. The increase in the interaction between the platinum precursor and the titania-incorporated support raised the dispersion and stability of the platinum catalysts with high-loading, even after reduction at 400 °C. The physico-chemical states of platinum and titanium were investigated by XRD, TEM, XAFS spectroscopy and CO adsorption technique. The platinum catalysts supported on the titania-incorporated supports with pH adjustment exhibited highly dispersed platinum particles ranging in size from 1 to 3 nm. They also exhibited high catalytic activity in the oxidation of carbon monoxide because of its incorporated titania and partially oxidized, small platinum particles.