Bimetallic Pd/Sn-based Nanoparticles and their Catalytic Properties in the Semihydrogenation of Diphenylacetylene

Multimetallic nanoparticles often enhance the catalytic performance of their monometallic counterparts by increasing reaction rates, catalyst selectivity, and/or stability. A prerequisite for understanding structure- and composition-associated properties, however, is the careful design of multimetallic nanoparticles with various structures and compositions. Here, bimetallic Pd/Sn-based nanoparticles are prepared with a tunable composition and structure exploiting ionic liquids (ILs) as reaction medium (i. e., methyltrioctylammonium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide). The nanoparticles are obtained in a one-pot synthetic procedure by reducing the metal salt precursors with triethylborohydride in the IL. The results show that the reaction parameters, in particular the nature and ratio of the Pd2+/Sn2+ precursors as well as the reaction temperature, influence NP formation and composition. X-ray diffraction with Rietveld analysis and transmission electron microscopy are employed to determine NP size and phase composition. Under optimized reaction conditions Pd2Sn or PdSn nanocrystals are formed as single-phase products after introducing an additional annealing step at 200 degrees C. Nanocrystals with intermetallic composition reveal enhanced catalytic properties in the semi-hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene which was used as a model reaction.

Automated summary

The use of ionic liquids as reaction medium allows for the preparation of bimetallic Pd/Sn-based nanoparticles with tunable composition and structure. The reaction parameters and temperature have an impact on nanoparticle formation and composition, which can be determined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. With an additional annealing step at 200 degrees C, single-phase products are formed, and these nanocrystals show enhanced catalytic properties in semi-hydrogenation reactions.