The effect of shape-controlled Pt and Pd nanoparticles on selective catalytic hydrodechlorination of trichloroethylene

Abstract

Tailoring the shape of nanoscale materials enables obtaining morphology-controlled surfaces exhibiting specific interactions with reactants during catalytic reactions. The specifics of nanoparticle surfaces control the catalytic performance, i.e., activity and selectivity. In this study, shape-controlled Platinum (Pt) and Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles with distinct morphology were produced, i.e., cubes and cuboctahedra for Pt and spheres and polyhedra/multiple-twins for Pd, with (100), (111 + 100), curved/stepped and (111) facets, respectively. These particles with well-tuned surfaces were subsequently deposited on a Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) support. The morphological characteristics of the particles were determined by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), while their adsorption properties were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of CO adsorbed at room temperature. The effect of the nanoparticle shape and surface structure on the catalytic performance in hydrodechlorination (HDCl) of trichloroethylene (TCE) was examined. The results show that nanoparticles with different surface orientations can be employed to affect selectivity, with polyhedral and multiply-twinned Pd exhibiting the best ethylene selectivity.