Effect of heat treatment on Au-Pd catalysts synthesized by sol immobilisation for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide and benzyl alcohol oxidation

We have investigated the effect of heat treatment in air on Au-Pd nanoparticles supported on titania and activated carbon prepared via the immobilisation of PVA-stabilised alloy nanoparticles. The catalytic activity of the gold-palladium nanoparticles was affected by both metal and PVA loading, as well as the degree of interaction of the nanoparticles with the support. The turnover frequency numbers for benzyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide synthesis were also sensitive to the calcination procedure employed and find a doubling of catalytic activity when using activated carbon as opposed to TiO<inf>2</inf> as the support material. These results illustrate the importance of understanding the precise metal-support interaction of catalyst systems designed for benzyl alcohol oxidation and hydrogen peroxide synthesis. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013.