Effect of Pd nanoparticle size on the catalytic hydrogenation of allyl alcohol

We report a particle size dependence for the rate of hydrogenation of allyl alcohol using 1.3-1.9 nm Pd dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticle (DEN) catalysts. For particles with diameters of <1.5 nm and containing <147 Pd atoms, the modulation in catalytic activity is due to the electronic properties of the particle. For the larger particles, 1.5-1.9 nm in diameter and containing an average of 147-250 Pd atoms, the size effect is a result of geometrical constraints. Specifically, the hydrogenation reaction is shown to occur preferentially on the face atoms of the larger nanoparticles.