Palladium nanoparticles supported on organosilane-functionalized carbon nanotube for solvent-free aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol

Abstract

Palladium nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes (CNT) functionalized with various organosilane modifiers have been prepared through a post-synthesis grafting method followed by a metal adsorption–reduction approach. The surface property, catalyst structure, electrochemical activity, and catalytic performance were tested in the selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol. The variation in type and amount of surface-functional groups played a key role in controlling catalytic behavior through fine tuning the surface basicity, metal nanoparticle size and size distribution, metal–support electronic interaction. In all these tested organosilane modifiers, 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane exhibited the largest improvement in catalytic performance, with a remarkably high quasi-turnover frequency of 288,755h−1 based on the electrochemical active surface area.