Observation of adsorbed hydrogen species on supported metal catalysts by inelastic neutron scattering

吉田 寿雄*; 山本 旭*; 細川 三郎*; 山添 誠司*; 吉川 聡一*; 原 賢二*; 中村 充孝; 蒲沢 和也*; 田中 庸裕*

Topics in Catalysis, 64(9-12), p.660 - 671, 2021/08

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-021-01448-7

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) enables direct and selective observation of H species due to the extremely large incoherent neutron scattering cross section of a hydrogen atom. In the present study, the adsorbed H species on some heterogeneous precious metal catalysts supported by alumina and carbon black were investigated by in situ INS spectroscopy with a newly designed sample cell. Three alumina-supported metal catalysts having Pt, Pd, and Rh metal nanoparticles with different particle sizes exhibited different INS spectra in intensities and band distribution. Observation of the H species on the metal nanoparticles and the alumina surface revealed their properties. In addition, the H atoms stored in Pd nanoparticles were observed as palladium hydride. In contrast, the H species on a Pt catalyst supported by carbon black were found to be strongly adsorbed on the carbon support.