COLL 84 |
| Jonathan Phillips, ESA WMM, Los Alamos National Lab, MS C-930, Los Alamos, NM 87545, Hugo Zea, Dept. of Chemical and Nuclear Engr, University of New Mexico, 203 Farris Engr. Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, and Chun Ku Chen, ESA-WMM, Los Alamos National Lab, MS c-930, Los Alamos, NM 87545. |
| We recently completed a series of studies of supported (both carbon and alumina) metal catalysts, created using a novel approach. Catalytic materials were manufactured by passing an aerosol consisting of a mixture of metal salts, and conventional support materials through a plasma torch. We postulate that metal precursors 'atomize' as a result of high temperatures encountered in the plasma. The metal atoms then nucleate and grow on the surface of the support in the rapid cooling zone of the plasma afterglow. For this study plasma generated Pd and Pd-Ag catalysts supported on either alumina or Norit C carbons were tested for several reactions and found to be active. In fact, plasma generated carbon supported Pd-Ag catalysts (but not Pd only catalysts) were superior to commercial catalysts in terms of overall performance. Preliminary studies of 'doped' catalysts generated with the torch and tested for photocatalytic activity will be presented as well. These results suggest that plasma generation of catalysts can be readily controlled to create catalysts with a wide range of characteristics. |
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The Science and Engineering of Catalyst Preparation
2:00 PM-5:25 PM, Sunday, March 28, 2004 Marriott -- Orange County 3, Oral
Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry |