Structure and catalytic activity of POSS-stabilized Pd nanoparticles

Palladium nanoparticles stabilized with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes have been characterized and determined to function as a heterogeneous catalyst. TEM and SEM studies indicate the material comprises 2–5 nm diameter Pd crystallites in a POSS layer, which aggregate to form spherical secondary structures of about 50 nm in diameter. Solid-state NMR reveals that the primary interaction between Pd and POSS is through the alkyl-amino functional groups on the POSS cage, in addition to some weak interactions with the cage itself. This material is observed by microbalance measurements to efficiently catalyze the direct hydrogenation of 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne.