Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Preparation of Silver-Palladium Alloyed Nanoparticles for Plasmonic Catalysis under Visible-Light Illumination
Published on: August 18, 2020
Heterogeneous Catalytic Composites from Palladium Nanoparticles in Montmorillonite Intercalated with Poly (Vinyl
Mengdie Xu1, Jing Zhao2, Guiqing Shu3
1Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Alternative Technologies for Fine Chemicals Process, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China. joanne7280@163.com.
Abstract:
In this study, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) chains intercalated montmorillonite (MMT) matrices has been demonstrated as an excellent scaffolding material for the immobilization of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles to prepare efficient heterogeneous catalysts for Heck reactions. Multiple layers (up to four) of PVP chains can intercalate the interlayer space of the MMT, resulting in an increase therein from 1.25 to 3.22 nm. MMT/PVP with PVP loading (20%) was selected as the platform for the immobilization of Pd. The in-situ reduction of the chelated Pd2+ into Pd⁰ in the interlayer space of MMT/PVP composite could be easily achieved. For the prepared Pd@MMT/PVP catalytic composite, a unique maze-like microstructure of Pd nanoparticles tightly encaged by PVP chains and by lamellae of layered silica has been detected by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the microstructure is well elucidated in molecular level by positron annihilation lifetime analysis of the Pd@MMT/PVP catalytic composite. The prepared Pd@MMT/PVP catalysts were highly active for the Heck coupling reactions between aromatic halides and alkenes, and could be recycled 9 times without significant decreases in coupling yields. The excellent comprehensive catalytic performances of the Pd@MMT/PVP catalytic composites are mainly attributed to their unique maze-like microstructure.
Related Concept Videos
Classifying Matter by Composition
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or...
Turnover Number and Catalytic Efficiency
Chymotrypsin is a pancreatic enzyme that breaks down proteins during digestion....
Catalytically Perfect Enzymes
Most enzymes...
Electron Transport Chains
The ETC is comprised of...
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...

