Preparation of Pdshell–Aucore/SiO2 catalyst and catalytic activity for acetylene hydrogenation Original Research Article

Various Pd shell thicknesses (0.12–1.5 nm) were synthesized on preformed Au particles of 5 nm size by seeded growth technique (15–80 at% Pd) using sodium citrate and tannic acid. The sols were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, TEM and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) measurements. HRTEM confirmed the pseudomorphic growth of the Pd shell on the Au core. The Au/Pd core/shell particles were fixed onto SiO2 (Aerosil 200) support by PDDA polycation. The catalytic activity in acetylene hydrogenation and selectivity of competition between acetylene and propene were tested after O2 and H2 pretreatment. The samples even in “as prepared” state hydrogenated acetylene. The thin Pd layer (15–30 at% Pd) on Au provided higher hydrogenation activity than the thick Pd shell. However, thermal treatment of the samples in H2 stream causing Au/Pd intermixing shifted the activity maximum to higher Pd concentration (68–80 at% Pd). Comparison of the TOF (1/s) and selectivity values allowed us to conclude that the homogenized particle with 68–80 at% Pd shows better hydrogenation activity and selectivity than the thin Pd shell (15–30 at% Pd) on the Au core.