An alternative atmospheric-pressure cold plasma method for synthesizing Pd/P25 catalysts with the assistance of ethanol

Abstract

Atmospheric-pressure (AP) cold plasma has experienced a growing interest recently due to its simplicity and high efficiency for preparing supported metal catalysts by using the active hydrogen species generated from explosive H2 gas. In this communication, we report an alternative AP cold plasma method for synthesizing supported Pd catalysts using Ar gas and ethanol instead of explosive H2 gas and toxic reducing agents. The TOF value of the prepared Pd/P25 catalyst at 120 °C is 3.1 times of that prepared by cold plasma using H2 gas due to the protection of the formed carbon species. AP cold plasma using ethanol as the origin of active hydrogen species is safer and more efficient than that using H2 gas, and may also have great potentials to synthesize other supported metal catalysts.