Exceptionally reactive Pt-BHA nanocomposite catalysts for CO oxidation

PHYS 449

Yi Zhang, yiz12@pitt.edu1, Sittichai Natesakawat2, Tom Sanders, tjs12@pitt.edu1, Christopher Matranga, christopher.matranga@netl.doe.gov2, and Goetz Veser, gveser@pitt.edu1. (1) Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 1249 Benedum Engineering Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, (2) National Energy Technology Laboratory, U. S. Department of Energy, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Oxide-supported metal nanoparticles have attracted much attention in catalysis. In particular, strong size-effects in CO-oxidation over nano-sized gold catalysts have been extensively studied as catalytic test reaction because of its importance in energy technology. Due to the insufficient stability of these nanocatalyst systems, our research is focused on the development of metal-oxide nanocomposite materials which combine the high reactivity of nano-sized noble metal particles with the stability of hexa-aluminates.

In the present study, we investigated these materials in low-temperature CO oxidation. Pt-BHA nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized via TEM, XRD, BET, and chemisorption. Kinetic studies of CO oxidation via in-situ FTIR over a temperature range of T = 200 - 300 K show an exceptionally low activation energy of ~ 9 kJ/mol, about 3-times lower than for conventional Pt catalysts. CO-TPD studies confirm a strong size-effect for CO desorption energies in the range between 5 – 25 nm.

 

PHYS Poster Session - Nanostructured Materials and Nanophotonics
7:30 PM-10:00 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Sci-Mix

Division of Physical Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008