Carbonyl surface modification of Al2O3 to synthesize tailored noble metal catalytic sites: from single atoms to sub-nano clusters

Noble metal catalysts are essential for heterogeneous catalysis. We have modified supports with carbonyl groups to create anchor sites that allowed the production of highly dispersed structures that maximize the exposure of such metals. Our preliminary data shows that these materials feature unique structures of atomic and sub-nano cluster metal structures supported on Al2O3, with unprecedented atomic precision. We now seek to characterize the exact chemical environment of these metal sites (Pd, Ru, Rh, Pt, and Ni) using XAS-XRD. Specifically, the state-of-the-art operando XAS at SNBL will allow us to identify how noble metal ions re-disperse during calcination and reduction processes and to better understand the essential role that surface carbonyl ligands have proven to play in our composites. This insight is of utmost importance to turn our carbonyl modification strategy into a general tool for the synthesis of supported noble metal catalysts with maximized metal utilization.