Tuning of catalytic sites in Pt/TiO2 catalysts for the chemoselective hydrogenation of 3-nitrostyrene

DOI: 10.1038/s41929-019-0334-3

Authors: Margherita Macino (Cardiff University) , Alexandra J. Barnes (Cardiff University) , Sultan M. Althahban (Lehigh University; Jazan University) , Ruiyang Qu (Zhejiang University) , Emma K. Gibson (University of Glasgow) , David J. Morgan (Cardiff University) , Simon J. Freakley (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Nikolaos Dimitratos (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University; Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna) , Christopher J. Kiely (Cardiff University; Lehigh University) , Xiang Gao (Zhejiang University) , Andrew M. Beale (UK Catalysis Hub; University College London) , Donald Bethell (University of Liverpool) , Qian He (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Meenakshisundaram Sankar (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Graham J. Hutchings (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Nature Catalysis , VOL 9

State: Published (Approved)
Published: September 2019
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 15151 , 22776

Abstract: The catalytic activities of supported metal nanoparticles can be tuned by appropriate design of synthesis strategies. Each step in a catalyst synthesis method can play an important role in preparing the most efficient catalyst. Here we report the careful manipulation of the post-synthetic heat treatment procedure—together with control over the metal loading—to prepare a highly efficient 0.2 wt% Pt/TiO2 catalyst for the chemoselective hydrogenation of 3-nitrostyrene. For Pt/TiO2 catalysts with 0.2 and 0.5 wt% loading levels, reduction at 450 °C induces the coverage of TiOx over Pt nanoparticles through a strong metal–support interaction, which is detrimental to their catalytic activities. However, this can be avoided by following calcination treatment with reduction (both at 450 °C), allowing us to prepare an exceptionally active catalyst. Detailed characterization has revealed that the peripheral sites at the Pt/TiO2 interface are the most likely active sites for this hydrogenation reaction.

Journal Keywords: Heterogeneous catalysis; Materials for energy and catalysis; Nanoparticles

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Materials

Diamond Offline Facilities: Electron Physical Sciences Imaging Centre (ePSIC)
Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS , E01-JEM ARM 200CF , I20-Scanning-X-ray spectroscopy (XAS/XES)

Added On: 26/09/2019 12:00

Discipline Tags:

Physical Chemistry Catalysis Chemistry Nanoscience/Nanotechnology

Technical Tags:

Microscopy Spectroscopy Electron Microscopy (EM) X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM)