Thermodynamic analysis of the cluster size evolution in catalyst preparation by deposition–precipitation

Abstract

Several gold catalysts supported on various inorganic supports with different point zero charge (pzc) were prepared by deposition–precipitation with urea (DPU). A thermodynamic model accounting for cluster evolution was advanced. The key element in the model is the dependence of the interfacial energy on the relative approach to pzc during DP. Experimental data were compared with the model, showing a possibility to utilize the theoretical approach to predict the cluster size.