Individual Heat of Adsorption of Adsorbed CO Species on Palladium and Pd–Sn Nanoparticles Supported on Al2O3 by Using Temperature-Programmed Adsorption Equilibrium Methods

From Methane to Methanol: Pd-iC-CeO2 Catalysts Engineered for High Selectivity via Mechanochemical Synthesis

In the pursuit of selective conversion of methane directly to methanol in the liquid-phase, a common challenge is the concurrent formation of undesirable liquid oxygenates or combustion byproducts. However, we demonstrate that monometallic Pd-CeO2 catalysts, modified by carbon, created by a simple mechanochemical synthesis method exhibit 100% selectivity toward methanol at 75 °C, using hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent. The solvent free synthesis yields a distinctive Pd-iC-CeO2 interface, where interfacial carbon (iC) modulates metal-oxide interactions and facilitates tandem methane activation and peroxide decomposition, thus resulting in an exclusive methanol selectivity of 100% with a yield of 117 μmol/gcat at 75 °C. Notably, solvent interactions of H2O2 (aq) were found to be critical for methanol selectivity through a density functional theory (DFT)-simulated Eley-Rideal-like mechanism. This mechanism uniquely enables the direct conversion of methane into methanol via a solid-liquid-gas process.

Bridging Dehydrogenation and Hydrogenation in Heterogeneous Catalysis: A Demonstration of a Unified Catalytic Approach

In the pursuit of enhancing the applications of hydrogen as an energy carrier, this research delved into the utilization of a singular hybrid catalyst capable of performing both dehydrogenation and hydrogenation processes for Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs). This study presents the synthesis and characterization of a hybrid catalyst, combining an organometallic pincer complex with Pd-Ru heterostructures supported on γ-alumina. Unlike conventional transition and noble metal nanoparticles, the use of a pincer complex offers exceptional thermal stability due to its aryl backbone, which is advantageous for various endothermic dehydrogenation reactions of hydrocarbons in LOHCs. This pioneering hybrid catalyst is a novel approach, demonstrating a proof of concept. In this study, we utilized the hybrid catalyst to investigate the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation of a lower enthalpic system, specifically the cyclooctane-cyclooctene system. The dehydrogenation of cyclooctane was conducted at 443 K using tertiary butyl ethylene as a sacrificial hydrogen acceptor, while the hydrogenation of cyclooctene reaction catalyzed by Pd-Ru nanostructures occurred at 298 K and 1 atm H2. The results showed successful tandem dehydrogenation-hydrogenation reactions. However, challenges were noted in terms of catalytic activity and recyclability, providing valuable insights for further refinement and optimization.

Fundamental Structural and Electronic Understanding of Palladium Catalysts on Nitride and Oxide Supports

The nature of the support can fundamentally affect the function of a heterogeneous catalyst. For the novel type of isolated metal atom catalysts, sometimes referred to as single-atom catalysts, systematic correlations are still rare. Here, we report a general finding that Pd on nitride supports (non-metal and metal nitride) features a higher oxidation state compared to that on oxide supports (non-metal and metal oxide). Through thorough oxidation state investigations by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), CO-DRIFTS, and density functional theory (DFT) coupled with Bader charge analysis, it is found that Pd atoms prefer to interact with surface hydroxyl group to form a Pd(OH)x species on oxide supports, while on nitride supports, Pd atoms incorporate into the surface structure in the form of Pd-N bonds. Moreover, a correlation was built between the formal oxidation state and computational Bader charge, based on the periodic trend in electronegativity.

Bond Selective Photochemistry at Metal Nanoparticle Surfaces: CO Desorption from Pt and Pd

The use of visible photon fluxes to influence catalytic reactions on metal nanoparticle surfaces has attracted attention based on observations of reaction mechanisms and selectivity not observed under equilibrium heating. These observations suggest that photon fluxes can selectively impact the rates of certain elementary steps, creating nonequilibrium energy distributions among various reaction pathways. However, quantitative studies validating these hypotheses on metal nanoparticle surfaces are lacking. We examine the influence of continuous wave visible photon fluxes on the CO desorption rates from 1 to 2 nm diameter Pt and Pd nanoparticle surfaces supported on γ-Al2O3. Temperature-programmed desorption measurements quantified via diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy demonstrate that visible photon fluxes significantly enhanced the rate of CO desorption from Pt nanoparticles in a wavelength-dependent manner. 440 nm photons most efficiently promoted CO desorption from Pt nanoparticle surfaces, aligning with the excitation energy for the interfacial electronic transition within the Pt-CO bond. Conversely, visible photon fluxes had no measurable influence on CO desorption rates from Pd nanoparticle surfaces after accounting for photon-induced heating. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the Pt-CO bond exhibits a narrower LUMO resonance, stronger coupling between the photoexcitation and forces induced on the metal-C bond, and vibrational energy dissipation that more effectively couples to desorption as compared to Pd-CO. These results demonstrate the specificity photons provide in facilitating chemical reactions on metal nanoparticle surfaces and substantiate the idea that photon fluxes can steer processes and outcomes of catalytic reactions in ways not achievable by equilibrium heating.

Isomorphous Substitution of Organic Cage Crystal by Pd Nanoclusters for Selective Hydrogenation

For supporting active metal, the cavity confinement and mass transfer facilitation lie not in one sack, a trade-off between high activity and good stability of the catalyst is present. Porous organic cages (POCs) are expected to break the trade-off when metal particles are properly loaded. Herein, three organic cages (CC3, RCC3, and FT-RCC3) are employed to support Pd nanoclusters for catalytic hydrogenation. Subnanometer Pd clusters locate differently in different cage frameworks by using the same reverse double-solvents approach. Compared with those encapsulated in the intrinsic cavity of RCC3 and anchored on the outer surface of CC3, the Pd nanoclusters orderly assembled in FT-RCC3 crystal via isomorphous substitution exhibit superior activity, high selectivity, and good stability for semi-hydrogenation of phenylacetylene. Isomorphous substitution of FT-RCC3 crystal by Pd nanoclusters is originated from high crystallization capacity of FT-RCC3 and specific interaction of each Pd nanocluster with four cage windows. Both confinement function and H2 accumulation capacity of FT-RCC3 are fully utilized to support active Pd nanoclusters for efficient selective hydrogenation. The present results provide a new perspective to the heterogeneous catalysis field in terms of crystalizing metal nanoclusters in POC framework and outside the cage for making the best use of both parts.

Identification of Highly Selective Surface Pathways for Methane Dry Reforming Using Mechanochemical Synthesis of Pd-CeO2

The methane dry reforming (DRM) reaction mechanism was explored via mechanochemically prepared Pd/CeO2 catalysts (PdAcCeO2M), which yield unique Pd-Ce interfaces, where PdAcCeO2M has a distinct reaction mechanism and higher reactivity for DRM relative to traditionally synthesized impregnated Pd/CeO2 (PdCeO2IW). In situ characterization and density functional theory calculations revealed that the enhanced chemistry of PdAcCeO2M can be attributed to the presence of a carbon-modified Pd0 and Ce4+/3+ surface arrangement, where distinct Pd-CO intermediate species and strong Pd-CeO2 interactions are activated and sustained exclusively under reaction conditions. This unique arrangement leads to highly selective and distinct surface reaction pathways that prefer the direct oxidation of CH x to CO, identified on PdAcCeO2M using isotope labeled diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and highlighting linear Pd-CO species bound on metallic and C-modified Pd, leading to adsorbed HCOO [1595 cm-1] species as key DRM intermediates, stemming from associative CO2 reduction. The milled materials contrast strikingly with surface processes observed on IW samples (PdCeO2IW) where the competing reverse water gas shift reaction predominates.

Stability of Pt-Adsorbed CO on Catalysts for Room Temperature-Oxidation of CO

A large signal of gas-phase CO overlapping with those of adsorbates is often present when investigating catalysts by operando diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy. Physically removing CO(g) from the IR cell may lead to a fast decay of adsorbate signals. Our work shows that carbonyls adsorbed on metallic Pt sites fully vanished in less than 10 min at 30 °C upon removing CO(g) when redox supports were used. In contrast, a broad band assigned to CO adsorbed on oxidized Pt sites was stable. It was concluded that physically removing CO(g) at room temperature during IR analyses will most likely lead to changes in the distribution of CO(ads) and a misrepresentation of the Pt site speciation, misguiding the development of efficient low-temperature CO oxidation catalysts. A tentative representation of the nature of the Pt phases present depending on the feed composition is also proposed.

Mesoporosity-Enabled Selectivity of Mesoporous Palladium-Based Nanocrystals Catalysts in Semihydrogenation of Alkynes

We reported mesoporosity engineering as a general strategy to promote semihydrogenation selectivity of palladium (Pd)-based nanobundles catalysts. The best mesoporous PdP displayed full conversion, remarkable activity, excellent selectivity, and high stability in semihydrogenation of 1-phenyl-1-propyne, all of which are remarkably better than commercial Lindlar catalysts. Mechanistic investigations ascribed high semihydrogenation selectivity to continuous crystalline framework and penetrated mesoporous channel of catalysts that weakened the adsorption and interaction capacity of alkenes and thus inhibited over-hydrogenation of alkenes to industrially unfavorable alkanes. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrated that convex crystalline mesoporosity of nanobundles catalysts electronically optimized the coordination environment of Pd active sites and energetically changed hydrogenation trends, resulting in a superior semihydrogenation selectivity to targeted alkenes.

Si-doped Al2O3 nanosheet supported Pd for catalytic combustion of propane: effects of Si doping on morphology, thermal stability, and water resistance

Catalytic combustion of propane as typical light alkanes was important for the purification of industrial VOCs and automobile hydrocarbon emissions. Si-doped Al₂O₃ nanosheet was synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and effects of Si content on the morphology and thermal stability of Al₂O₃ were investigated. The doping of SiO₂ could tune the thickness of Al₂O₃ nanosheets and significantly improve its thermal stability, the θ phase was still maintained, and the specific surface area was as high as 56.3 m² g^-1 after calcination at 1200 °C. And then the Si-doped Al₂O₃ nanosheets were used as support of Pd catalysts (Pd/Si-Al₂O₃ nanosheets) for catalytic combustion of propane, especially Pd/3.6Si-Al₂O₃ nanosheets, which presented high activity, stability, and resistance to sintering and H₂O due to the promotion of Si on the thermal stability of Al₂O₃ and the stabilization (dispersion, isolation, and strong interaction) of PdO_x species.

Thermal Unequilibrium of PdSn Intermetallic Nanocatalysts: From In Situ Tailored Synthesis to Unexpected Hydrogenation Selectivity

Effective control on chemoselectivity in the catalytic hydrogenation of C=O over C=C bonds is uncommon with Pd-based catalysts because of the favored adsorption of C=C bonds on Pd surface. Here we report a unique orthorhombic PdSn intermetallic phase with unprecedented chemoselectivity toward C=O hydrogenation. We observed the formation and metastability of this PdSn phase in situ. During a natural cooling process, the PdSn nanoparticles readily revert to the favored Pd₃ Sn₂ phase. Instead, using a thermal quenching method, we prepared a pure-phase PdSn nanocatalyst. PdSn shows an >96 % selectivity toward hydrogenating C=O bonds of various α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, highest in reported Pd-based catalysts. Further study suggests that efficient quenching prevents the reversion from PdSn- to Pd₃ Sn₂ -structured surface, the key to the desired catalytic performance. Density functional theory calculations and analysis of reaction kinetics provide an explanation for the observed high selectivity.

A review on advances in green treatment of glycerol waste with a focus on electro-oxidation pathway

Over the past decades, research efforts are being devoted into utilizing the biomass waste as a major source of green energy to maintain the economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Specifically, there is an emerging consensus on the significance of glycerol (an underutilised waste from biodiesel industry) as a cheap, non-toxic, and renewable source for valuable chemicals synthesis. There are numerous methods enacted to convert this glycerol waste to tartronic acid, mesoxalic acid, glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone, oxalic acid and so on. Among these, the green electro-oxidation technique is one of the techniques that possesses potential for industrial application due to advantages such as non-toxicity process, fast response, and lower energy consumption. The current review covers the general understanding on commonly used techniques for alcohol (C₁ & C₂) conversion, with a specific insight on glycerol (C₃) electro-oxidation (GOR). Since catalysts are the backbone of chemical reaction, they are responsible for the overall economy prospect of any processes. To this end, a comprehensive review on catalysts, which include noble metals, non-noble metals, and non-metals anchored over various supports are incorporated in this review. Moreover, a fundamental insight into the development of future electrocatalysts for glycerol oxidation along with products analysis is also presented.

A Comparison of Experimental Procedures for the Application of Infrared Spectroscopy to Probe the Surface Morphology of an Alumina-Supported Palladium Catalyst

Structure/function relationships in heterogeneous catalysis play an important role in catalyst design strategies. The combination of chemisorption of suitable probe molecules alongside application of infrared spectroscopy is an established technique for providing information on the metal crystallite morphology of supported metal catalysts. Following a review of key literature on this topic, a variety of experimental arrangements that may be adopted for this task are examined. Specifically, the adsorption of CO over a 5wt% Pd/Al2O3 catalyst is investigated using transmission and diffuse reflectance sampling options and two research grade spectrometers. Although comparable spectra are obtained on all the platforms examined, differences are noted. In particular, temperature-programmed IR spectroscopy on one platform enables resolution of two features assigned to linear CO bound to the Pd particles. The relevance of this sub-division of terminal sites with respect to selective hydrogenation reactions is briefly considered.

Fabrication of PdZn alloy catalysts supported on ZnFe composite oxide for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

The conversion of CO₂ to methanol is of great significance for providing a means of CO₂ fixation and the development of future fuels. Supported Pd catalysts have been demonstrated to be active for CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol and PdZn alloy plays a key role in this reaction. Therefore, using ZnO-enriched support to increase the amount of nanometric PdZn alloy particles on the surface is an effective strategy to develop ideal catalysts. Herein, we fabricated a PdZn alloy catalyst supported on ZnO-enriched ZnFe₂O₄ spinel for efficient CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol. The amount of formed PdZn alloy and catalyst structure influenced by ZnO concentration on ZnFe₂O₄ were explored to obtain the best Pd-Z₁FO catalyst, which achieves a methanol space-time yield (STY) of 593 gkg_cat^-1h^-1 (12 gg_Pd^-1h^-1) with CO₂ conversion of 14% under reaction conditions of 290 °C, 4.5 MPa and 21600 mLg^-1h^-1. Furthermore, the amount of exposed PdZn alloy sites were measured by using CO-pulse chemisorption and we find a linearity between methanol production rate and PdZn alloy sites.

Sinter-Resistant Nanoparticle Catalysts Achieved by 2D Boron Nitride-Based Strong Metal-Support Interactions: A New Twist on an Old Story

Strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) is recognized as a pivotal strategy in hetereogeneous catalysis to prevent the sintering of metal nanoparticles (NPs), but issues including restriction of supports to reducible metal oxides, nonporous architecture, sintering by thermal treatment at >800 °C, and unstable nature limit their practical application. Herein, the construction of non-oxide-derived SMSI nanocatalysts based on highly crystalline and nanoporous hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) 2D materials was demonstrated via in situ encapsulation and reduction using NaBH₄, NaNH₂, and noble metal salts as precursors. The as-prepared nanocatalysts exhibited robust thermal stability and sintering resistance to withstand thermal treatment at up to 950 °C, rendering them with high catalytic efficiency and durability in CO oxidation even in the presence of H₂O and hydrocarbon simulated to realistic exhaust systems. More importantly, our generic strategy offers a novel and efficient avenue to design ultrastable hetereogeneous catalysts with diverse metal and support compositions and architectures.

The nature of the active sites of Pd–Ga catalysts in the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol

The Pd/Ga ratio influences the phases formed during catalysis. The best catalyst necessitates the formation of Pd–Ga intermetallic compounds and also a low content of Ga₂O₃, whose excess tend to block surface sites.

A Contribution to the Experimental Microkinetic Approach of Gas/Solid Heterogeneous Catalysis: Measurement of the Individual Heats of Adsorption of Coadsorbed Species by Using the AEIR Method

The two first surface elementary steps of a gas/solid catalytic reaction are the adsorption/desorption at least one of the reactants leading to its adsorption equilibrium which can be or not disturbed by the others surface elementary steps leading to the products. The variety of the sites of a conventional catalyst may lead to the formation of different coadsorbed species such as linear, bridged and threefold coordinated species for the adsorption of CO on supported metal particles. The aim of the present article is to summarize works performed in the last twenty years for the development and applications of an analytical method named Adsorption Equilibrium InfraRed spectroscopy (AEIR) for the measurement of the individual heats of adsorption of coadsorbed species and for the validation of mathematical expressions for their adsorption coefficients and adsorption models. The method uses the evolution of the IR bands characteristic of each of coadsorbed species during the increase in the adsorption temperature in isobaric conditions. The presentation shows that the versatility of AEIR leads to net advantages as compared to others conventional methods particularly in the context of the microkinetic approach of catalytic reactions.