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Precisely Engineered Supported Gold Clusters as a Stable Catalyst for Propylene Epoxidation
Nidhi Kapil1, Tobias Weissenberger1, Fabio Cardinale1
1Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
This study developed a stable gold catalyst on a zeolitic support for propylene epoxidation. Ligand-stabilized gold clusters enhance catalyst lifetime and efficiency in this crucial chemical reaction.
Area of Science:
- Heterogeneous catalysis
- Nanomaterials science
- Chemical engineering
Background:
- Direct gas-phase epoxidation of propylene is vital for producing propylene oxide.
- Developing stable and selective catalysts with high hydrogen utilization remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a stable Au/TS-1 catalyst using ligand-stabilized sub-nanometre gold clusters.
- To improve catalytic performance for direct gas-phase epoxidation of propylene.
Main Methods:
- One-pot synthesis of ligand-stabilized gold clusters on TS-1 support.
- Non-thermal O2 plasma for ligand removal.
- Characterization using XPS, 31P MAS NMR, DR-UV/VIS, HRTEM, and TGA.
Main Results:
- The synthesized Au/TS-1 catalyst showed a 10x longer lifetime (>20 days) compared to untreated catalysts.
- Achieved improved propylene oxide selectivity and hydrogen efficiency.
- Demonstrated a structure-stability relationship, highlighting the role of ligands in stabilizing gold particle size.
Conclusions:
- Ligand stabilization is crucial for maintaining gold particle size and enhancing catalyst stability.
- This strategy offers a promising approach for designing robust heterogeneous catalysts for gas-phase epoxidation.
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