Isolated Pd sites as selective catalysts for electrochemical and direct hydrogen peroxide synthesis

DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c01305

Authors: Marc Ledendecker (Max-Planck-Institut fur Eisenforschung; Technical University Darmstad) , Enrico Pizzutilo (Max-Planck-Institut fur Eisenforschung) , Grazia Malta (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Guilherme V. Fortunato (Max-Planck-Institut fur Eisenforschung) , Karl J. J. Mayrhofer (Max-Planck-Institut fur Eisenforschung; Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nurnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Julich) , Graham J. Hutchings (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) , Simon J. Freakley (University of Bath)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Acs Catalysis

State: Published (Approved)
Published: April 2020
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 15151

Abstract: Palladium nanoparticles have been studied extensively as catalysts for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, where selectivity remains a key challenge. Alloying Pd with other metals and the use of acid and halide promoters are commonly used to increase H2O2 selectivity, however; the sites that can selectively produce H2O2 have not been identified and the role of these additives remains unclear. Here, we report the synthesis of atomically dispersed Pd/C as a model catalyst for H2O2 production without the presence of extended Pd surfaces. We show that these isolated cationic Pd sites can form H2O2 with significantly higher selectivity than metallic Pd nanoparticles in both the reaction of H2 and O2 and the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This demonstrates that catalysts containing high populations of isolated Pd sites are selective catalysts for this two-electron reduction reaction and that the performance of materials in the direct synthesis reaction and ORR have many similarities.

Journal Keywords: Catalysis; Hydrogen Peroxide; Palladium; Electrocatalysis

Subject Areas: Chemistry


Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS

Added On: 29/04/2020 10:32

Documents:
acscatal.0c01305.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Catalysis Physical Chemistry Nanoscience/Nanotechnology Chemistry

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS)