Synthesis, characterization, and photoactivity of nanosized palladium clusters deposited on titania-modified mesoporous MCM-41

Nanoparticles of Pd supported in the mesopores of titania-modified MCM-41 have been synthesized by the photodeposition method for the first time and characterized by XPS spectroscopy, N-2 sorption isotherms, XRD, TEM, SEM, diffusion reflectance UV-vis absorption spectra, and Raman spectra. The metallic Pd clusters were dispersed uniformly in the mesopores of titania-modified MCM-41. The photocatalytic activity of Pd-deposited titania-modified MCM-41 has been investigated. For the photoreduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), titania-modified MCM-41 exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than the supports did. (C) 2001 Academic Press.