In situ Raman and in situXRD analysis of PdO reduction and Pd° oxidation supported on γ-Al2O3catalyst under different atmospheres

Abstract

Reduction of Pd° and decomposition of palladium oxide supported on γ-alumina were studied at atmospheric pressure under different atmospheres (H₂, CH₄, He) over a 4 wt% Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst (mean palladium particle size: 5 nm with 50% of small particles of size below 5 nm). During temperature programmed tests (reduction, decomposition and oxidation) the crystal domain behaviour of the PdO/Pd° phase was evaluated by in situRaman spectroscopy and in situXRD analysis. Under H₂/N₂, the reduction of small PdO particles (<5 nm) occurs at room temperature, whereas reduction of larger particles (>5 nm) starts at 100 °C and is achieved at 150 °C. Subsequent oxidation in O₂/N₂ leads to reoxidation of small crystal domain at ambient temperature while oxidation of large particles starts at 300 °C. Under CH₄/N₂, the small particle reduction occurs between 240 and 250 °C while large particle reduction is fast and occurs between 280 and 290 °C. Subsequent reoxidation of the catalyst reduced in CH₄/N₂ shows that small and large particle oxidation of Pd° starts also at 300 °C. Under He, no small particle decomposition is observed probably due to strong interactions between particles and support whereas large particle reduction occurs between 700 and 750 °C. After thermal decomposition under He, the oxidation starts at 300 °C. Thus, the reduction phenomenon (small and large crystal domain) depends on the nature of the reducing agent (H₂, CH₄, He). However, whatever the reduction or decomposition treatment or the crystal domain, Pd° oxidation starts at 300 °C and is completed only at temperatures higher than 550 °C. Under lean conditions, with or without water, the palladium consists of reduced sites of palladium (Pd°, Pd^δ+ with δ < 2 or PdO_x with x < 1) randomly distributed on palladium particles.