Aberration corrected analytical electron microscopy studies of sol-immobilized Au + Pd, AuPd and PdAu catalysts used for benzyl alcohol oxidation and hydrogen peroxide production

In this study, a systematic series of AuPd bimetallic particles were prepared by colloidal synthesis methods, in order to gain better control over the particle size distribution and structure. Particles having random alloy structures, as well as 'designer' particles with Pd-shell/Au-core and Au-shell/Pd-core morphologies, have been prepared and immobilized on both activated carbon and TiO2 supports. Aberration corrected analytical electron microscopy (ACEAM) has been extensively used to characterize these sol-immobilized materials. In particular, state-of-the-art z-contrast STEM-HAADF imaging and STEM-XEDS spectrum imaging has been employed. These techniques have provided invaluable new (and often unexpected) information on the atomic structure, elemental distribution within particles, and compositional variations between particles for these controlled catalyst preparations. In addition, we have been able to compare their differing thermal stability, sintering and wetting behaviors on activated carbon and TiO2 supports. These sol immobilized materials have also been compared as catalysts for (i) benzyl alcohol oxidation and (ii) the direct production of H2O2 in an attempt to elucidate the optimum particle morphology/support combination for each reaction. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.