Prof. Jin Mingshang and his colleagues from the Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, XJTU, have developed a new method for modifying fine components on the metal catalyst surface onthe nanoscale. By integrating the low-speed reduction of metal ions with the surface atomic migration, the surface composition of palladium nanoparticles can be controlled, so as to significantly optimize the selectivity and activity of palladium catalyst in hydrogenation reactions. In addition to modifying the composition of the surface palladium catalyst, the approach also helps to maintain the surface structure of the palladium nanoparticles. As metal nanoparticles are the active core of most heterogeneous catalysts, the method is expected to be of wide use in the field of heterogeneous catalysis, resulting in evident promotion of the catalytic efficiency and selectivity.

The work of Jin's team has been published in Materials Horizonsand Nano Researchin two articles, respectively entitled Construction of Au-Pd Alloy Shells for Enhanced Catalytic Performance Toward Alkyne Semihydrogenation Reactionsand Construction of Pd-M (M = Ni , Ag, Cu) Alloy Surfaces for Catalytic Applications.

Link to the article: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2017/mh/c6mh00478d#!divAbstract