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Title: Systematic Structure–Property Relationship Studies in Palladium-Catalyzed Methane Complete Combustion

Journal Article · · ACS Catalysis

To limit further rising levels in methane emissions from stationary and mobile sources and to enable promising technologies based on methane, the development of efficient combustion catalysts that completely oxidize CH4 to CO2 and H2O at low temperatures in the presence of high steam concentrations is required. Palladium is widely considered as one of the most promising materials for this reaction, and a better understanding of the factors affecting its activity and stability is crucial to design even more improved catalysts that efficiently utilize this precious metal. Here we report a study of the effect of three important variables (particle size, support, and reaction conditions including water) on the activity of supported Pd catalysts. We use uniform palladium nanocrystals as catalyst precursors to prepare a library of well-defined catalysts to systematically describe structure–property relationships with help from theory and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. With this approach, we confirm that PdO is the most active phase and that small differences in reaction rates as a function of size are likely due to variations in the surface crystal structure. We further demonstrate that the support exerts a limited influence on the PdO activity, with inert (SiO2), acidic (Al2O3), and redox-active (Ce0.8Zr0.2O2) supports providing similar rates, while basic (MgO) supports show remarkably lower activity. Finally, we show that the introduction of steam leads to a considerable decrease in rates that is due to coverage effects, rather than structural and/or phase changes. Altogether, the data suggest that to further increase the activity and stability of Pd-based catalysts for methane combustion, increasing the surface area of supported PdO phases while avoiding strong adsorption of water on the catalytic surfaces is required. This study clarifies contrasting reports in the literature about the active phase and stability of Pd-based materials for methane combustion.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
DGE-1656518; AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1457139
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1485426
Journal Information:
ACS Catalysis, Vol. 7, Issue 11; ISSN 2155-5435
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 114 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Accessing the C–C transition state energy on transition metals journal January 2019
Palladium oxidation leads to methane combustion activity: Effects of particle size and alloying with platinum journal October 2019
Catalytic Oxidation of Methane: Pd and Beyond: Catalytic Oxidation of Methane: Pd and Beyond journal June 2018
Transition state and product diffusion control by polymer–nanocrystal hybrid catalysts journal August 2019
Catalyst deactivation via decomposition into single atoms and the role of metal loading journal August 2019
Pentacoordinated Al 3+ ‐Stabilized Active Pd Structures on Al 2 O 3 ‐Coated Palladium Catalysts for Methane Combustion journal July 2019
Confined Ultrathin Pd-Ce Nanowires with Outstanding Moisture and SO 2 Tolerance in Methane Combustion journal June 2018
Pentacoordinated Al 3+ ‐Stabilized Active Pd Structures on Al 2 O 3 ‐Coated Palladium Catalysts for Methane Combustion journal August 2019
N-Doped Carbon–Silica Composite Confined Pd Nanoparticles for Abatement of Methane Emission From Automobiles journal November 2018
In Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Studies of Nanoscale Electrocatalysts journal June 2019
Ultrafast X-ray Absorption Studies of the Structural Dynamics of Molecular and Biological Systems in Solution journal May 2011
Confined Ultrathin Pd-Ce Nanowires with Outstanding Moisture and SO 2 Tolerance in Methane Combustion journal June 2018
Synthesis of a Highly Stable Pd@CeO 2 Catalyst for Methane Combustion with the Synergistic Effect of Urea and Citric Acid journal December 2018
Cooperative Catalysis of Methane Oxidation through Modulating the Stabilization of PdO and Electronic Properties over Ti-Doped Alumina-Supported Palladium Catalysts journal November 2019

Figures / Tables (6)