Monodispersed Pd Nanoparticles Supported on Mg-Al Mixed Metal Oxides: A Green and Controllable Synthesis

Aimed at the green synthesis of supported noble metal nanoparticles without any additional reducing agents or stabilizers at room temperature, a new strategy in which monodispersed Pd nanoparticles were successfully immobilized on Mg-Al mixed metal oxides derived from layered double hydroxides was developed, and the reduction mechanism was also proposed. It allowed the in situ immobilization of monodispersed Pd nanoparticles with a face-centered cubic structure, using only alcohols with α-hydrogen atom as the solvent and reducing agent. Control over the mean particle size and content of Pd nanoparticles was realized by adjusting the temperature, initial concentration, and type of alcohol. With the content of Pd varied from 6.4 to 42.3 mg/g, the mean particle size of Pd increased from 1.1 to 4.9 nm. The as-prepared catalyst showed high catalytic activity for oxidation of benzyl alcohol: when the Pd content was 6.4 mg/g, conversion of 60.3% and selectivity of 99.2% were obtained with a turnover frequency of 4807 h^-1. Similarly, on the basis of the high stand electrode potentials, immobilized Ag (5.6 nm) and Au (4.7 nm) nanoparticles were also prepared through this methodology. Moreover, the choice of supports was extended to other powder supports that would react with the byproduced acid. Overall, this facile method opens up new opportunities for controllable synthesis of supported nanoparticle catalysts in a green way.