Platinum Nanoparticles Embedded In Nanoporous Carbon Spheres As Shape Selective Catalyst

Platinum nanoparticles embedded in nanoporous carbon spheres as shape selective catalyst

Maryam Peer ^a, Ramakrishnan Rajagopalan ^b, Henry C. Foley ^a

^a Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

^b The Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

The goal in this study is to synthesize and use nanoporous carbon microspheres within which are embedded even smaller platinum nanoparticles as more efficient shape selective catalyst for liquid phase hydrogenation reactions. Previously, in our group, platinum embedded in carbon was prepared and activity and shape selectivity of the catalyst were shown in liquid phase hydrogenation reactions. The main problem of this as-synthesized catalyst was the low activity due to the long diffusion paths to reach to the active platinum sites. This led to fewer active sites accessible for the reaction. The motivation to make the diffusion length shorter and make more of the platinum accessible led to the synthesis of carbon microspheres with an average particle size of 400 nm. Platinum nano particles were formed by reduction of platinum acetyl acetonate using furfuryl alcohol. With temperature control in reduction step platinum particles as small as 2 nm were formed. The catalyst was synthesized by pyrolysis of preformed platinum/polyfurfuryl alcohol spheres prepared using a micellar solution. Pluronic F127 surfactant was used as the structure directing agent in the solution to form spheres. The activity and shape selectivity of the catalyst were demonstrated for liquid phase hydrogenation of alkenes at different temperatures.