Ultra-low palladium catalysts for phenylacetylene semihydrogenation: Synthesis by modified pulsed laser ablation–deposition

• Pd nanocatalysts are prepared by modified pulsed ablation–deposition method.
• The Pd particles’ size and distribution are controlled by the plasma properties.
• Pd catalysts show excellent activity in the semihydrogenation of phenylacetylene.

Pulsed laser ablation–deposition (PLA–PLD) in inhomogeneous electrical and electromagnetic fields was used to synthesise supported Pd catalysts. A modified PLA–PLD method opens up opportunities for obtaining Pd nanoparticles with the size from 2 to 5 nm by varying the deposition conditions. The catalysts were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The content of metal in catalysts was ultra-low (0.011–0.016 wt%). The catalysts demonstrated unexpectedly high activity for phenylacetylene semihydrogenation (TOFv 18–55 s−1, TOFs 41–224 s−1) at the Pd/substrate molar ratio less than 1/100 000 and styrene selectivity up to 93%.

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