We report a transformative, all inorganic-based synthesis of supported bimetallic alloy nanocatalysts. We use Pd3Ag as a proof of concept. The method involves breaking down bulkPd3Ag alloy into the nanoparticles in liquid lithium, converting metallic Li to LiOH, transferring Pd3Ag nanoparticles/LiOH mixture onto non-water soluble supports, followed by leaching off the LiOH with water under ambient conditions. The size of the resulting Pd3Ag nanoalloys was ~2.3 nm characterized by TEM. In addition, studies by XRD and EXAFS showed that the resulting Pd3Ag nanoparticles inherited similar structure as the starting bulk Pd3Ag and showed enhanced catalytic activity in hydrogenation of acrolein in comparison to commercial Pd catalysts. This method provides a potentially cost competitive and environmentally friendly synthesis of nanoalloy catalysts, as it does not use any expensive and/or toxic organic solvents or ligands and does not leave any unwanted catalyst poisoning residues such as chloride. In addition, the method does not require electrochemical reduction of metal ions, bypassing the constrains of the reduction potentials of different metal ions. Furthermore, the leaching process is under ambient conditions applicable to a wide variety of support materials; and the as-prepared nanoalloy catalysts are already in metallic state and require no further reduction. As for the recycling of lithium, all lithium is leeched off in the form of LiOH/Li2O, which are the starting materials in existing industrial production of metal lithium.

Direct synthesis of bimetallic nanoalloys from corresponding bulk alloys

246th National Meeting (2013)

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