Facile synthesis of precious-metal single-site catalysts using organic solvents

DOI: 10.1038/s41557-020-0446-z

Authors: Xi Sun (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University; Lanzhou University) , Simon R. Dawson (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Tanja E. Parmentier (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Grazia Malta (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Thomas E. Davies (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Qian He (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Li Lu (Lehigh University) , David J. Morgan (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Nicholas Carthey (Johnson Matthey Technology Centre) , Peter Johnston (Johnson Matthey) , Simon A. Kondrat (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Simon J. Freakley (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Christopher J. Kiely (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University; Lehigh University) , Graham J. Hutchings (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University; Lehigh University)
Co-authored by industrial partner: Yes

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Nature Chemistry , VOL 46

State: Published (Approved)
Published: April 2020
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 22766 , 20643 , 19580

Abstract: Single-site catalysts can demonstrate high activity and selectivity in many catalytic reactions. The synthesis of these materials by impregnation from strongly oxidizing aqueous solutions or pH-controlled deposition often leads to low metal loadings or a range of metal species. Here, we demonstrate that simple impregnation of the metal precursors onto activated carbon from a low-boiling-point, low-polarity solvent, such as acetone, results in catalysts with an atomic dispersion of cationic metal species. We show the generality of this method by producing single-site Au, Pd, Ru and Pt catalysts supported on carbon in a facile manner. Single-site Au/C catalysts have previously been validated commercially to produce vinyl chloride, and here we show that this facile synthesis method can produce effective catalysts for acetylene hydrochlorination in the absence of the highly oxidizing acidic solvents previously used.

Journal Keywords: Catalysis; Green chemistry

Subject Areas: Chemistry

Diamond Offline Facilities: Electron Physical Sciences Imaging Centre (ePSIC)
Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS , E01-JEM ARM 200CF

Discipline Tags:

Catalysis Chemistry Physical Chemistry

Technical Tags:

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