Unraveling the synergy between gold nanoparticles and chromium- hydrotalcites in aerobic oxidation of alcohols

P. Liu, V. Degirmenci, E.J.M. Hensen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The combination of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with chromium-substituted hydrotalcite (Cr-HT) supports makes very efficient heterogeneous catalysts (Au/Cr-HT) for aerobic alcohol oxidation under soluble-base-free conditions. The Au-support synergy increases with increasing Cr content of the support and decreasing AuNP size. In situ UV-Raman, X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectroscopic studies firmly establish that the strong Au-Cr synergy is related to a Cr ↔ Cr redox cycle at the Au/Cr-HT interface, where O activation takes place accompanied by electron transfer from Cr-HT to Au. The interfacial Cr species can be reduced by surface Au-H hydride and negative-charged Au species to close the catalytic cycle. A study of kinetic isotope effect indicates that alcohol O-H cleavage is facilitated by the presence of Cr, making a-C-H bond cleavage step more rate-controlling. Accordingly, a dual synergistic effect of Au/Cr-HT catalysts on the activation of O2 and alcohol reactants is proposed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)80-91
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Catalysis
Volume313
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2014

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