Palladium nanoparticles supported on CNT functionalized by rare-earth oxides for solvent-free aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol

• Pd nanoparticle catalysts supported on rare-earth functionalized CNT were prepared.
• Rare-earth oxide showed impact on the physisochemical properties of catalyst.
• SmOx was the best promoter for Pd catalyst in aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol.
• Key influential factors such as electron density, particle size and so on were identified to afford the catalytic performances.
• A remarkably high qTOF was obtained over the Pd supported on CNT catalyst promoted by SmOx.

A series of rare-earth oxide functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared through wet impregnation process. Palladium nanoparticles were deposited over surfaces of functionalized CNT through metal ion adsorption–reduction method and were examined using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, in situ adsorbed pyridine Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and electrochemical measurements. Compared to the non-functionalized Pd/CNT catalyst, the catalytic activities of different rare-earth oxide functionalized CNT supported Pd catalysts were improved for aerobic solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol due to the fine-tuned properties of catalytic active sites, e.g., Pd particle size, size distribution, valence status, metal–support interactions, electron density, surface acidity and basicity. Sm2O3 functionalization displayed the highest improvement in catalytic activity whereas the content of Sm2O3 had impact on Pd particle size, electrochemical surface area, and metal–support interactions which further influenced the benzyl alcohol conversion and selectivity toward benzyl aldehyde. The catalyst functionalized by an appropriate amount of Sm2O3 afforded a remarkably high turnover frequency of 318,760 h−1 for aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol based upon palladium electrochemical active surface areas.

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