Abstract:

Anatase TiO₂ nanospindles containing 89% exposed {101} facets (TiO₂-101) and nanosheets with 77% exposed {001} facets (TiO₂-001) were hydrothermally synthesized and used as supports for Pd catalysts. The effects of the TiO₂ materials on the catalytic performance of Pd/TiO₂-101 and Pd/TiO₂-001 catalysts were investigated in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to polymer-grade ethylene. The Pd/TiO₂-101 catalyst exhibited enhanced performance in terms of acetylene conversion and ethylene yield. To understand these effects, the catalysts were characterized by H₂ temperature-programmed desorption (H₂-TPD), H₂ temperatureprogrammed reduction (H₂-TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), pulse CO chemisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The TEM and CO chemisorption results confirmed that Pd nanoparticles (NPs) on the TiO₂-101 support had a smaller average particle size (1.53 nm) and a higher dispersion (15.95%) than those on the TiO₂-001 support (average particle size of 4.36 nm and dispersion of 9.06%). The smaller particle size and higher dispersion of Pd on the Pd/TiO₂-101 catalyst provided more reaction active sites, which contributed to the improved catalytic activity of this supported catalyst.

Key words: Pd/TiO₂ catalyst, Acetylene selective hydrogenation, Anatase TiO₂, {101}plane, Structure characterization