Characterization of structure and catalytic activity of Pt–Sn catalysts supported in Al2O3, SiO2 and TiO2

In this work we characterized two types of Pt–Sn bimetallic catalysts: a `modelʹ catalyst made by sequentially evaporating the two metals on a planar SiO2 film deposited on a 3 mm gold grid and a series of `realʹ catalysts prepared by the impregnation method on SiO2, TiO2 and Al2O3 and were called `realʹ catalysts. Lattice spacings from high resolution electron micrographs exhibited differences between the `modelʹ and the `realʹ catalysts, implying that the preparation method affects the formation of different chemical phases. We observed the formation of core-shell morphologies in both `modelʹ and `realʹ catalysts, which implies the segregation and formation of different phases at the surface of the particles. The `realʹ catalysts were also studied with X-ray diffraction to compare the chemical phases formed with the HREM measurements. We used dehydrogenation of cyclohexane as a test reaction to study the catalytic behaviour of the Pt when we add Sn. Catalysts at different atomic concentrations were prepared in order to observe the changes in activity and selectivity.