Progress on metal-support interactions in Pd-based catalysts for automobile emission control

The interactions between metals and oxide supports, so-called metal-support interactions (MSI), are of great importance in heterogeneous catalysis. Pd-based automotive exhaust control catalysts, especially Pd-based three-way catalysts (TWCs), have received considerable research attention owing to its prominent oxidation activity of HCs/CO, as well as excellent thermal stability. For Pd-based TWCs, the dispersion, chemical state and thermal stability of Pd species, which are crucial to the catalytic performance, are closely associated with interactions between metal nanoparticles and their supporting matrix. Progress on the research about MSI and utilization of MSI in advanced Pd-based three-way catalysts are reviewed here. Along with the development of advanced synthesis approaches and engine control technology, the study on MSI would play a notable role in further development of catalysts for automobile exhaust control.

Designing Sites in Heterogeneous Catalysis: Are We Reaching Selectivities Competitive With Those of Homogeneous Catalysts?

A critical review of different prominent nanotechnologies adapted to catalysis is provided, with focus on how they contribute to the improvement of selectivity in heterogeneous catalysis. Ways to modify catalytic sites range from the use of the reversible or irreversible adsorption of molecular modifiers to the immobilization or tethering of homogeneous catalysts and the development of well-defined catalytic sites on solid surfaces. The latter covers methods for the dispersion of single-atom sites within solid supports as well as the use of complex nanostructures, and it includes the post-modification of materials via processes such as silylation and atomic layer deposition. All these methodologies exhibit both advantages and limitations, but all offer new avenues for the design of catalysts for specific applications. Because of the high cost of most nanotechnologies and the fact that the resulting materials may exhibit limited thermal or chemical stability, they may be best aimed at improving the selective synthesis of high value-added chemicals, to be incorporated in organic synthesis schemes, but other applications are being explored as well to address problems in energy production, for instance, and to design greener chemical processes. The details of each of these approaches are discussed, and representative examples are provided. We conclude with some general remarks on the future of this field.

Reactivity of Pd-MO2 encapsulated catalytic systems for CO oxidation

In this study, we present an investigation aimed at characterizing and understanding the synergistic interactions in encapsulated catalytic structures between the metal core (i.e., Pd) and oxide shell (i.e., TiO2,...

Comparative Study of Moisture-Treated Pd@CeO2/Al2O3 and Pd/CeO2/Al2O3 Catalysts for Automobile Exhaust Emission Reactions: Effect of Core-Shell Interface

In this article, moisture-treated Pd@CeO₂/Al₂O₃ and Pd/CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalysts were synthesized and applied in automotive three-way catalytic (TWC) reactions. Compared to the Pd/CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst, the Pd@CeO₂/Al₂O₃ core-shell catalyst had better TWC activities. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) showed excess PdO₂ on the Pd and CeO₂ interface of Pd@CeO₂ nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra analysis demonstrated the generation of the hydroperoxyl (*OOH) groups on the surface of the Pd@CeO₂ nanoparticle. CO-diffuse reflectance Fourier transform (DRIFT) measurement suggested that the CO adsorbed on *OOH species contributed to the formation of CO₂ and intermediate *COOH. NO-DRIFT results showed that more *NO₂ species appeared on the moisture-treated Pd@CeO₂ nanoparticle, which was the main active site in the automobile TWC reaction. These were the main factors contributing to the moisture-treated Pd@CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst's high catalytic activities. The collected data revealed the crucial role of the co-promoting effect of moisture and core-shell interface on TWC reactions over the Pd@CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst, which could be applied to other catalytic reactions.

Atomic-scale engineering of metal–oxide interfaces for advanced catalysis using atomic layer deposition

Two main routes to optimization of metal–oxide interfaces: reducing metal particle size and oxide overcoating.

Ultra-Small Pd Nanoparticles on Ceria as an Advanced Catalyst for CO Oxidation

In this study, we demonstrate the preparation and characterization of small palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) on modified ceria support (Pd/CeO2) using wet impregnation and further reduction in an H2/Ar flow. The obtained particles had a good dispersion, but their small size made it difficult to analyze them by conventional techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The material demonstrated a high catalytic activity in the CO oxidation reaction: the 100% of CO conversion was achieved at ~50 °C, whereas for most of the cited literature, such a high conversion usually was observed near 100 °C or higher for Pd NPs. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy in combination with CO probe molecules was used to investigate the size and morphology of NPs and the ceria support. On the basis of the area ratio under the peaks attributed to bridged (B) and linear (L) carbonyls, high-dispersion Pd NPs was corroborated. Obtained results were in good agreement with data of X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis (XANES) and CO chemisorption measurements.

Fish-in-hole: rationally positioning palladium into traps of zeolite crystals for sinter-resistant catalysts

A fish-in-hole strategy for preparing a Pd nanoparticle catalyst was reported, which is achieved by controllable positioning of Pd nanoparticles individually at the traps of zeolite crystals. This Pd catalyst was sinter-resistant under high-temperature calcination and CO oxidation, outperforming the conventional supported catalyst consisting of supported Pd nanoparticles synthesized via the traditional deposition method.

One-step electrodeposition of Pd–CeO2 on high pore density foams for environmental catalytic processes

Electrodeposited Pd–CeO₂ on high pore density foams shows high activity and stability for environmental processes and outstanding mass transport properties.

Catalysts of 3D ordered macroporous ZrO2-supported core–shell Pt@CeO2−x nanoparticles: effect of the optimized Pt–CeO2 interface on improving the catalytic activity and stability of soot oxidation

The catalytic performance of 3D-OM Pt_1.0@CeO_2−x/ZrO₂-1 is better than that of 3D-OM Pt_1.0/ZrO₂.

Surfactant-Mediated One-Pot Method To Prepare Pd-CeO2 Colloidal Assembled Spheres and Their Enhanced Catalytic Performance for CO Oxidation

A simple, one-pot method to fabricate ordered, monodispersed Pd-CeO₂ colloidal assembled spheres (CASs) was developed using the surfactant-mediated solvothermal approach, which involves a tunable self-assembled process by carefully controlling different chemical reactions. The evolution process and formation mechanism of the CASs were thoroughly investigated by time-controlled and component-controlled experiments. For CO oxidation, this CAS nanocatalyst exhibited much higher catalytic activity and thermal stability than Pd/CeO₂ prepared by an impregnation method, and its complete CO conversion temperature is ∼120 °C. The enhanced catalytic performance for CO oxidation could be attributed to the synergistic effect of highly dispersed PdO species and Pd²⁺ ions incorporated into the CeO₂ lattice. For this CAS catalyst, each sphere can be viewed as a single reactor, and its catalytic performance can be further improved after being supported on alumina, which is obviously higher than results previously reported. Furthermore, this method was used to successfully prepare M-CeO₂ CASs (M = Pt, Cu, Mn, Co), showing further that this is a new and ideal approach for fabricating active and stable ceria-based materials.

Copper-Based Catalysts Supported on Highly Porous Silica for the Water Gas Shift Reaction

Copper-based nanoparticles, supported on either a silica aerogel or cubic mesostructured silicas obtained by using two different synthetic protocols, were used as catalysts for the water gas shift reaction. The obtained nanocomposites were thoroughly characterised before and after catalysis through nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements at -196 °C, TEM, and wide- and low-angle XRD. The samples before catalysis contained nanoparticles of copper oxides (either CuO or Cu₂ O), whereas the formation of metallic copper nanoparticles, constituting the active catalytic phase, was observed either by using pre-treatment in a reducing atmosphere or directly during the catalytic reaction owing to the presence of carbon monoxide. A key role in determining the catalytic performances of the samples is played by the ability of different matrices to promote a high dispersion of copper metal nanoparticles. The best catalytic performances are obtained with the aerogel sample, which also exhibits constant carbon monoxide conversion values at constant temperature and reproducible behaviour after subsequent catalytic runs. On the other hand, in the catalysts based on cubic mesostructured silica, the detrimental effects related to sintering of copper nanoparticles are avoided only on the silica support, which is able to produce a reasonable dispersion of the copper nanophase.

Pd(0) encapsulated nanocatalysts as superior catalytic systems for Pd-catalyzed organic transformations

In the last decade, Pd(0) nanoparticles have attracted increasing attention due to their outstanding utility as nanocatalysts in a wide variety of key chemical reactions.

Metal–support interaction in Pd/CeO2 model catalysts for CO oxidation: from pulsed laser-ablated nanoparticles to highly active state of the catalyst

Highly active Pd/CeO₂ catalysts were synthesized from nanosized Pd and ceria obtained by PLA.

Efficient removal of organic ligands from supported nanocrystals by fast thermal annealing enables catalytic studies on well-defined active phases

A simple yet efficient method to remove organic ligands from supported nanocrystals is reported for activating uniform catalysts prepared by colloidal synthesis procedures. The method relies on a fast thermal treatment in which ligands are quickly removed in air, before sintering can cause changes in the size and shape of the supported nanocrystals. A short treatment at high temperatures is found to be sufficient for activating the systems for catalytic reactions. We show that this method is widely applicable to nanostructures of different sizes, shapes, and compositions. Being rapid and effective, this procedure allows the production of monodisperse heterogeneous catalysts for studying a variety of structure-activity relationships. We show here results on methane steam reforming, where the particle size controls the CO/CO2 ratio on alumina-supported Pd, demonstrating the potential applications of the method in catalysis.

One-pot synthesis of meso-structured Pd-CeOx catalyst for efficient low-temperature CO oxidation under ambient conditions

A facile one-pot co-precipitation approach was applied to fabricate a meso-structured Pd-CeOx composite for low temperature CO oxidation. The as-prepared material had a much higher specific area and highly dispersed noble metal species, and thus showed excellent catalytic activity and stability for CO oxidation, especially under ambient conditions. Complete CO conversion could be achieved at as low as 25 °C for 5.9 wt% Pd doped catalyst, when 3.0 vol% H₂O was introduced into the feed gas. The reaction mechanism on such a catalyst has been proposed through in situ DRIFTS and kinetic analysis.

Synthesis of a hierarchical SiO2/Au/CeO2 rod-like nanostructure for high catalytic activity and recyclability

Uniform hierarchical SiO₂/Au/CeO₂ rod-like nanostructures were successfully fabricated by combining three individual synthesis steps, in which sub-5 nm gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were coated with a mesoporous CeO₂ shell.

Noble metal nanoparticle@metal oxide core/yolk-shell nanostructures as catalysts: recent progress and perspective

Controllable integration of noble metals (e.g., Au, Ag, Pt, and Pd) and metal oxides (e.g., TiO₂, CeO₂, and ZrO₂) into single nanostructures has attracted immense research interest in heterogeneous catalysis, because they not only combine the properties of both noble metals and metal oxides, but also bring unique collective and synergetic functions in comparison with single-component materials. Among many strategies recently developed, one of the most efficient ways is to encapsulate and protect individual noble metal nanoparticles by a metal oxide shell of a certain thickness to generate the core-shell or yolk-shell structure, which exhibits enhanced catalytic performance compared with conventional supported catalysts. In this review article, we summarize the state-of-the art progress in synthesis and catalytic application of noble metal nanoparticle@metal oxide core/yolk-shell nanostructures. We hope that this review will help the readers to obtain better insight into the design and application of well-defined nanocomposites in both the energy and environmental fields.

The local structure of PdxCe1−xO2−x−δsolid solutions

In this paper, physical methods in combination with quantum chemistry calculations are used to study the local structure of Pd_xCe_1−xO_2−δsolid solutions.

Nanostructured materials for applications in heterogeneous catalysis

In this review, a brief survey is offered on the main nanotechnology synthetic approaches available to heterogeneous catalysis, and a few examples are provided of their usefulness for such applications. We start by discussing the use of colloidal, reverse micelle, and dendrimer chemistry in the production of active metal and metal oxide nanoparticles with well-defined sizes, shapes, and compositions, as a way to control the surface atomic ensembles available for selective catalysis. Next we introduce the use of sol-gel and atomic layer deposition chemistry for the production and modification of high-surface-area supports and active phases. Reference is then made to the more complex active sites that can be created or carved on such supports by using organic structure-directing agents. We follow with an examination of the ability to achieve multiple functionality in catalysis via the design of dumbbells, core@shell, and other complex nanostructures. Finally, we consider the mixed molecular-nanostructure approach that can be used to develop more demanding catalytic sites, by derivatizing the surface of solids or tethering or immobilizing homogeneous catalysts or other chemical functionalities. We conclude with a personal and critical perspective on the importance of fully exploiting the synergies between nanotechnology and surface science to optimize the search for new catalysts and catalytic processes.

Exceptional thermal stability of Pd@CeO2 core-shell catalyst nanostructures grafted onto an oxide surface

Monolayer films of highly catalytically active Pd@CeO2 core-shell nanocomposites were grafted onto a planar YSZ(100) (yttria-stabilized zirconia, YSZ) single crystal support that was functionalized with a CVD-deposited layer of triethoxy(octyl)silane (TEOOS). The resulting monolayer films were found to exhibit exceptionally high thermal stability compared to bare Pd nanoparticles with the Pd@CeO2 nanostructures remaining intact and highly dispersed upon calcining in air at temperatures in excess of 1000 K. The CeO2 shells were also shown to be more easily reduced than bulk CeO2, which may partially explain their unique activity as oxidation catalysts. The use of both TEOOS and tetradecylphosphonic acid (TDPA) as coupling agents for dispersing Pd@CeO2 core-shell nanocomposites onto a high surface area γ-Al2O3 support is also demonstrated.

Exceptional activity for methane combustion over modular Pd@CeO2 subunits on functionalized Al2O3

There is a critical need for improved methane-oxidation catalysts to both reduce emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas, and improve the performance of gas turbines. However, materials that are currently available either have low activity below 400°C or are unstable at higher temperatures. Here, we describe a supramolecular approach in which single units composed of a palladium (Pd) core and a ceria (CeO(2)) shell are preorganized in solution and then homogeneously deposited onto a modified hydrophobic alumina. Electron microscopy and other structural methods revealed that the Pd cores remained isolated even after heating the catalyst to 850°C. Enhanced metal-support interactions led to exceptionally high methane oxidation, with complete conversion below 400°C and outstanding thermal stability under demanding conditions.

A versatile route to core-shell catalysts: synthesis of dispersible M@oxide (M=Pd, Pt; oxide=TiO2, ZrO2) nanostructures by self-assembly

A method, based on self assembly, for preparing core-shell nanostructures that are dispersible in organic solvents is demonstrated for Pd and Pt cores with CeO(2), TiO(2), and ZrO(2) shells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of these nanostructures confirmed the formation of distinct metal cores, approximately 2 nm in diameter, surrounded by amorphous oxide shells. Functional catalysts were prepared by dispersing the nanostructures onto an Al(2)O(3) support; and vibrational spectra of adsorbed CO, together with adsorption uptakes, were used to demonstrate the accessibility of the metal core to CO and the porous nature of the oxide shell. Measurements of water-gas-shift (WGS) rates demonstrated that these catalysts exhibit activities similar to that of conventional supported catalysts despite having lower metal dispersions. Pd-based CeO(2) and TiO(2) core-shell catalysts exhibit significant transient deactivation, which is probably caused by a decrease in the exposed metal surface area due to the ease of reduction of the shells. Alternatively, Pt-based analogous core-shell catalysts do not exhibit such a transient decrease. Both Pd- and Pt-based ZrO(2) core-shell catalysts deactivate at a significantly lower rate due to the less reducible nature of the ZrO(2) shell.

Colloidal metal nanoparticles as a component of designed catalyst

Recent advances in the synthesis of colloidal metal nanoparticles of controlled sizes and shapes that are relevant for catalyst design are reviewed. Three main methods, based on colloid chemistry techniques in solution, i.e., chemical reduction of metal salt precursors, electrochemical synthesis, and controlled decomposition of organometallic compounds and metal-surfactant complexes, are used to synthesize metal nanoparticles. Their catalytic activity and selectivity depend on the shape, size and composition of the metal nanoparticles, and the support effect, as shown for many reactions in quasi-homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. A specially designed type of thermally stable catalysts--"embedded" metal catalysts, in which metal nanoparticles are isolated by porous support shells so that metal sintering is effectively avoided at high temperatures, are also introduced. The utilization of pre-prepared colloidal metal nanoparticles with tuned size, shape and composition as components of designed catalysts opens up new field in catalysis.