Abstract

Background: Deposition of palladium nanoparticles from colloidal solution on various supports produces palladium catalysts with a predetermined size and concentration of the palladium nanoparticles, which allows to study the nanoparticle size effects and support influence on palladium catalytic properties.

Objective: The goal of the present work was the development of a preparation method of systems supported on γ-Al2O3 palladium nanoparticles with a controlled size and determination of their thermal stability in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres.

Methods: We demonstrated the preparation of Pd/γ-Al2O3 composite by precipitation of the size-controlled palladium nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution from colloidal solution. The composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) methods.

Results: The size and size distribution of the nanoparticles supported on γ-Al2O3 were found to be increasing upon precipitation due to strong Pd/γ-Al2O3 interaction. A significant enlargement of the supported nanoparticles occured at 300°C. The aggregation of the nanoparticles was observed at temperatures above 500°C resulting in an increase in their size.

Conclusions: Our findings are not only applicable for the preparation of a model Pd supported on the γ-Al2O3 catalyst but could be applicable to the designing of the Pd-containing catalyst for important industrial high-temperature processes.

Keywords: Palladium, nanoparticles, contact angle, sintering, catalysis, Pd/γ-Al2O3 composite.