Alumina support and Pdn cluster size effects on activity of Pdn for catalytic oxidation of CO

A series of model catalysts were prepared by depositing different size Pd(n) clusters on alumina films grown to variable thickness on a Ta(110) support. Samples were characterized by a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low energy He+ scattering, and temperature-programmed reaction and desorption (TPR/ TPD). For the activity studies, the samples were first exposed to 18O2 at Tox, and then to 13CO at 180 K, where CO sticks to Pd, but not to the alumina support. CO oxidation activity increased with increasing thickness of the alumina support up to approximately 4.5 nm, but was constant for greater thicknesses. Activity increased, with Tox up to 400 K, but then declined for Tox = 500 K. Activity was also found to be non-monotonically dependent on deposited cluster size, with Pd(n) (n < or = 6) being generally more reactive than the larger clusters studied. Activity was only weakly correlated with exposed Pd binding sites, which decreased with increasing cluster size, however, there does appear to be a correlation between activity and electronic structure, as probed via the Pd 3d binding energy. Unlike previous systems we have studied, the activity of small Pd(n) on these alumina films was quite stable, with essentially no changes observed in up to eight successive TPR experiments.