Preparation of platinum-iridium nanoparticles on titania nanotubes by MOCVD and their catalytic evaluation

Pt based catalysts are commonly used in several industrial processes involving hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions. New deposition methods as well as support materials are being investigated to generate new catalysts with superior catalytic activity. In this work, platinum-iridium (Pt-Ir) nanoparticles of about 5 nm in size were supported on titania (TiO₂) nanotubes by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The TiO₂ nanotubes were prepared by an alkali hydrothermal method using sodium hydroxide solution at 100 °C, during 64.8 ks. Pt-Ir nanoparticles were obtained by controlling the MOCVD conditions at 400 °C and 66.6 kPa. Textural properties and particle size were investigated by nitrogen physisorption (BET method), X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Catalytic activity was measured in cyclohexene disproportion as the test molecule for hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions. The TiO₂ nanotubes exhibit a considerable high surface area of about 425,000 m²/kg, however, after calcination at 400 °C their nanotubular morphology was partially transformed. In spite of this change, the 5 nm Pt-Ir nanoparticles supported on TiO₂ nanotubes were more active in the cyclohexene disproportion reaction than conventional Pt-Ir/alumina catalysts in the whole range of temperatures investigated (50-250 °C). Hydrogenation reactions (high selectivity to cyclohexane) predominate at temperatures below 150 °C.