Electrocatalytic Activity of Au Supported on Carbon Black‒4A Zeolite for Propane-1,2-Diol Oxidation

Abstract

The electrocatalytic activity of the Au nanoparticles loaded on carbon black‒4A zeolite support (denoted as the Au/C‒4A-Z) for propane-1,2-diol oxidation has been investigated. Characterizations show that the C–4A-Z support is less favorable than carbon black but is more favorable than 4A zeolite for the dispersion of Au nanoparticles. The Au/C‒4A-Z catalysts, in a wide range of the C/4A-Z mass ratios, show higher activity and stability than Au/C and Au/4A-Z for propane-1,2-diol oxidation in alkaline solution. For instance, Au/C‒4A-Z with a C/4A-Z mass ratio of 2:1 shows a little more negative oxidation potential and about 1.8 and 2.5 times higher peak current density than Au/C and Au/4A-Z, respectively. The results indicate that the carbon black‒4A zeolite supports are very efficient for enhancing the catalytic activity of the Au nanoparticles loaded on them and further suggests promising applications of zeolites as support materials for electrocatalysts to achieve high activity.