Synthesis and support interaction effects on the palladium nanoparticle catalyst characteristics

Abstract

Abstract Supported palladium nanoparticle (Pd-NP) catalysts are a recent development within the ongoing research toward novel and innovative heterogeneous catalysts. Their catalytic performance typically exceeds that of traditional catalysts exhibiting more conventional dimensions and, hence, drives catalysis research toward optimal characteristics. However, to date, little to no attention has been paid to a fundamental understanding of how synthesis parameters affect these characteristics, such as, the catalyst synthesis routes and conditions, and the interaction between the NPs and the support. This review aims to fill the research gap by critically analyzing a vast number of synthesis routes and, subsequently, discussing them thouroughly as well as relating the catalyst properties to NP-support interactions. For this purpose, Pd-NPs supported on metal oxides, zeolites, carbon structures, polymers, dendrimers and ordered porous materials, synthesized through various in- and ex-situ strategies and catalyzing a plethora of liquid-phase reactions are considered. The insights into the effects of synthesis strategy, synthesis conditions and support properties on the NP characteristics can be utilized to optimize current or develop novel synthesis methods in order to achieve sub-10 nm sized, highly dispersed, highly distributed and zero-valent Pd-NPs which act as a highly active, reusable, low leaching and sustainable heterogeneous catalyst for liquid-phase reactions.