Solvent-free phosphorus modification of Pt/Al2O3 catalysts to improve dispersion and dehydrogenation activity

Ellert A, Ding F, Hutzler A, Herold F, Piccirilli L, Rønning M, Janssens TV, Wisser D, Schühle P (2025)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Book Volume: 696

Article Number: 120199

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2025.120199

Abstract

This study introduces a solvent-free gas-phase method for modifying Al₂O₃-supported platinum (3 wt%) catalysts with phosphorus (P) to enhance Pt dispersion and dehydrogenation activity. The process involves decomposing NaH₂PO₂ at 600 °C, releasing PH₃, interacting with Pt on the catalyst surface. P-modified catalysts showed up to a 24 % increase in activity for perhydro-benzyltoluene dehydrogenation within a P:Pt ratio of 0.6–2.6. Additionally, they exhibited high resistance to sintering, maintaining Pt particle sizes of ∼0.9 nm even at 600 °C. Characterization using CO chemisorption, STEM NMR, and XPS revealed that PH₃ deposits phosphorus on the catalyst, which then oxidizes via support lattice oxygen. At 600 °C, this oxidized phosphorus migrates to the support/metal interface, stabilizing Pt nanoparticles and preventing sintering. However, when the P:Pt ratio exceeds 2.6, excess phosphorus remains on the surface, deactivating active sites. This study highlights the role of POₓ species in stabilizing Pt nanoparticles and optimizing catalyst performance.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

NTNU Trondheim - Norwegian University of Science and Technology Norway (NO) Umicore Denmark ApS Denmark (DK) Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien (HI-ERN) Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Ellert, A., Ding, F., Hutzler, A., Herold, F., Piccirilli, L., Rønning, M.,... Schühle, P. (2025). Solvent-free phosphorus modification of Pt/Al2O3 catalysts to improve dispersion and dehydrogenation activity. Applied Catalysis A-General, 696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2025.120199

MLA:

Ellert, Abelina, et al. "Solvent-free phosphorus modification of Pt/Al2O3 catalysts to improve dispersion and dehydrogenation activity." Applied Catalysis A-General 696 (2025).

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