QUASI-1D METALS (Pd, Pt, Nb) AS CATALYSTS FOR OXIDATION OF CO

Nanowebs of palladium, platinum, and niobium consisting of nanowires 3-4 nm in diameter with average length of about 200 nm were produced by laser ablation of metallic targets in superfluid helium. When the nanowebs were tested in the oxidation of CO by oxygen at 573 K, an appreciable yield of CO2 was observed for all the catalysts. According to TEM, palladium and platinum nanowires at this temperature in air disintegrate into chains consisting of individual nanoparticles; the nanowires of niobium remain intact. According to XPS contact between niobium wires and oxygen leads to oxidation of the niobium to Nb2O5, the palladium nanowires are partially oxidized, while the platinum nanowires remain in the metallic state. Despite the substantial differences in the morphology and structure the activity of the investigated metal nanowires in the oxidation of CO is fairly close.