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Porous catalysts

The platinum rush

Nature Materials volume 16, pages 7–8 (2017)Cite this article

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Ultra-stable and catalytic platinum atoms and clusters have been obtained by entrapment within a zeolite framework during its formation.

Approximately half of the world's platinum usage is in catalytic applications such as exhaust gas treatment, industrial chemical production and oil refining1. Since the chemical transformations catalysed by platinum take place at the metal's surface, maximal activity calls for a high surface-to-volume ratio and thereby a small particle size. This has prompted a recent 'rush' to obtain catalytic-metal particles smaller than 1 nm (referred to hereafter as 'clusters') or even single atoms stabilized on or in host materials2,3, sometimes with surprising structure sensitivities4. In view of the lower thermodynamic stability of atoms at the surface compared with those in the bulk of a metal, controlling and preserving the size of metal particles, clusters and atoms, during both synthesis and catalysis, is a challenge. In particular for high-temperature catalysis, the use of a support or host material to stabilize small particles is essential. Zeolites are microporous crystalline materials with well-defined pores and cavities that can act as host materials, and attempts have been made to synthesize metal atoms or clusters in zeolites, with varying levels of success5,6,7.

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Figure 1: Schematic comparison of Pt impregnation and entrapment, and the structural effects of heat treatment.
Figure 2: Size-selective catalysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Krijn P. de Jong and Jovana Zečević are at Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute of Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands,

    Krijn P. de Jong & Jovana Zečević

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  1. Krijn P. de Jong
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  2. Jovana Zečević
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Correspondence to Krijn P. de Jong.

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de Jong, K., Zečević, J. The platinum rush. Nature Mater 16, 7–8 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4832

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