Pd-Pt catalysts on fluorinated alumina support studied by X-ray absorption fine structure

A series of bi-metallic Pd-Pt catalysts supported on both pristine and fluorinated alumina supports were investigated with x-ray absorption spectroscopy. It was found that Pd and Pt form small alloy particles on the pristine alumina support; the composition and the cluster size of the PdPt bimetallic alloys, and the electronic properties of the metals were significantly altered on the fluorinated support. The remarkable increase in sulfur tolerance of the PdPt metallic clusters supported on the fluorine pretreated alumina can be attributed to an electronic depletion of the metals, large particle size and direct participation of the acid sites in the reaction.