Palladium-Based Bimetallic Nanocrystal Catalysts for the Direct Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide

The direct synthesis of H2O2 from H-2 and O-2 is a strongly desired reaction for green processes and a promising alternative to the commercialized anthraquinone process. The design of efficient catalysts with high activity and H2O2 selectivity is highly desirable and yet challenging. Metal dopants enhance the performance of the active phase by increasing reaction rates, stability, and/or selectivity. The identification of efficient dopants relies mostly on catalysts prepared with a random and non-uniform deposition of active and promoter phases. To study the promotional effects of metal doping on Pd catalysts, we employ colloidal, bimetallic nanocrystals (NCs) to produce catalysts in which the active and doping metals are colocalized to a fine extent. In the absence of any acid and halide promotors, PdSn and PdGa NCs supported on acid-pretreated TiO2 (PdSn/s-TiO2, PdGa/s-TiO2) were highly efficient and outperformed the monometallic Pd catalyst (Pd/s-TiO2), whereas in the presence of an acid promotor, the overall H2O2 productivity was also further enhanced for the Ni-, Ga-, In-, and Sn-doped catalysts with respect to Pd/s-TiO2.