The application of infrared spectroscopy to probe the surface morphology of alumina-supported palladium catalysts.

Five alumina-supported palladium catalysts have been prepared from a range of precursor compounds [palladium(II) nitrate, palladium(II) chloride, palladium(II) acetylacetonate, and tetraamminepalladium(II) tetraazidopalladate(II)] and at different metal loadings (1-7.3 wt %). Collectively, this series of catalysts provides a range of metal particle sizes (1.

A model high surface area alumina-supported palladium catalyst.

A catalyst preparative procedure is described that produces a high surface area alumina-supported palladium catalyst that yields an atypical chemisorbed carbon monoxide infrared spectrum. This inherently residue-free substrate provides a useful reference for evaluation of catalyst crystallite morphology and its effect on reactivity profiles.