Biomaterial Database

Unlocking synergy in bimetallic catalysts by core-shell design. 2021

Jessi E S van der Hoeven, and Jelena Jelic, and Liselotte A Olthof, and Giorgio Totarella, and Relinde J A van Dijk-Moes, and Jean-Marc Krafft, and Catherine Louis, and Felix Studt, and Alfons van Blaaderen, and Petra E de Jongh

Materials Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Extending the toolbox from mono- to bimetallic catalysts is key in realizing efficient chemical processes1. Traditionally, the performance of bimetallic catalysts featuring one active and one selective metal is optimized by varying the metal composition1-3, often resulting in a compromise between the catalytic properties of the two metals4-6. Here we show that by designing the atomic distribution of bimetallic Au-Pd nanocatalysts, we obtain a synergistic catalytic performance in the industrially relevant selective hydrogenation of butadiene. Our single-crystalline Au-core Pd-shell nanorods were up to 50 times more active than their alloyed and monometallic counterparts, while retaining high selectivity. We find a shell-thickness-dependent catalytic activity, indicating that not only the nature of the surface but also several subsurface layers play a crucial role in the catalytic performance, and rationalize this finding using density functional theory calculations. Our results open up an alternative avenue for the structural design of bimetallic catalysts.