Pd modified kaolinite nanocomposite as a hydrogenation catalyst

Abstract

A preparation strategy for palladium (Pd) nanoparticles anchored on the surface of kaolinite nanorods to form a Pd/kaolinite nanocomposite and the highly efficient catalytic hydrogenation performance is presented in this paper. Natural kaolinite nanorods served as a mild and outstanding stabilizer for supporting Pd nanoparticles. The results indicated that well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles were successfully anchored on kaolinite nanorods via a self-assembly method. Natural rod-like kaolinite possessing hydroxyl groups on its surface serves as an ideal nanoscale support for assembly and integration with Pd particles. Thus, it was revealed that kaolinite nanorods not only interacted favorably with the Pd species, but also acted as a support that suppressed the aggregation and precipitation of the Pd nanoparticles. The nanocatalyst was found to be effective for the catalytic hydrogenation of styrene to ethylbenzene. The process of catalytic hydrogenation was further depicted.