Hydrogenation reactions are typically considered to be structure insensitive, but in certain instances changing particle size may influence catalytic activity.  One such reaction has been proposed to be the hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol using sodium borohydride.  Still, no direct evidence has been published regarding this hypothesis.  In our work, we are utilizing polyvinylpyroolidone (PVP) capped Pt nanocatalysts synthesized in the 1-10 nm size range to catalyze this reaction under pseudo-first-order conditions.  UV/Vis absorbance spectroscopy is being employed to monitor product disappearance and calculate apparent rate constants for the selected particle sizes.  Data from reactions carried out at selected temperatures over the 293 to 333 K temperature range are being used to calculate apparent activation energies for the reaction catalyzed by platinum nanocatalysts of selected particle sizes.  These results will be used in further clarifying the molecular level steps involved in the mechanism of this reaction.

Factors affecting catalytic activity for nitrophenol hydrogenation on colloidal platinum nanocatalysts

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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