Pt-Sn bimetallic catalysts are known to be selective catalysts for the hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols, which are important intermediates in the pharmaceuticals, flavor and fragrance industries. These catalysts are therefore also good candidates for the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol, which is a reaction of interest in biomass reforming. The desireable selectivity of oxide-supported Pt-Sn clusters compared to pure Pt has been attributed to a number of factors, including electronic effects, bifunctional effects, and the role of Sn oxide. Vapor-deposited Pt-Sn clusters supported on TiO2(110) are investigated in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) as model systems for understanding selective hydrogenation of furfural, and catalytic activity is studied in a microreactor (P~ 1 atm) coupled to the UHV chamber. Scanning tunneling microscopy experiments demonstrate that exclusively bimetallic clusters can be prepared by sequential deposition of Sn and Pt. Strong interactions between Sn and TiO2 lead to oxidation of Sn at the cluster-support interface as well as evidence for reduction of titania. Due to the lower surface free energy of Sn compared to Pt, the surfaces of the bimetallic clusters are Sn-rich, regardless of the order of deposition. Studies of furfural hydrogenation on Pt-Sn alloy surfaces show that the addition of Sn to Pt increases selectivity for furfuryl alcohol and prevents the catalyst from deactivating.

Pt-Sn clusters on TiO2: Growth and activity for selective hydrogenation reactions

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.