Nitrite reduction over Pd supported CNFs: Metal particle size effect on selectivity

Pd catalysts supported on carbon-nano-fibers (CNFs) were synthesized via Pd colloids stabilized with polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA). Pd catalysts with narrow particle size distributions and mean Pd sizes between 2.6 and 30 nm were immobilized on CNFs. Characterization with CO-chemisorption and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that a significant part of the Pd surface is blocked by the polymer layer on the Pd particles. The prepared catalysts were tested for nitrite reduction in water, resulting in formation of nitrogen and ammonia. Turn over frequencies were found to be independent of Pd particle size while selectivity to ammonia clearly decreased with increasing Pd particle size.