Vinyl acetate (VA) is an important monomer used in the production of paints, surface coatings and adhesives. Synthesis of VA is usually carried out over supported Pd alloy catalysts with a selectivity as high as 96% and described as C2H4 + CH3COOH + ½ O2 -> C2H3OOCCH3 + H2O Although the VA synthesis reaction has been industrially carried out for many years, the nature of the active sites and the reaction mechanism is still unclear. The goal of this study was to acquire a fundamental understanding of the VA reaction mechanism by carrying out detailed kinetic and spectroscopic investigations on single crystals and supported Pd catalysts, and to detail the role of alloying in optimizing the selectivity of this important industrial reaction. A combination of surface science techniques and kinetic measurements has been used to address the mechanism. Supported catalysts, 1 wt% Pd/SiO2 and 5 wt% Pd/SiO2, and 1 wt% Pd-0.5 wt% Au/SiO2, were prepared by an incipient wet-impregnation method and characterized using XRD and TEM. On Pd-only catalysts the reaction rates were found to be: Pd(100) < 5 wt% Pd/SiO2 (dpd = 4.2 nm) < 1 wt% Pd/SiO2 (dpd = 2.5 nm). Particle size-dependence of the reaction rates is evident for the Pd-only catalysts, which suggests a degree of structure sensitivity of the reaction. There is an increased availability of uncoordinated, edge atoms on small particles. With a Pd single crystal, fewer less-coordinated surface sites are present compared to a comparable area on a small Pd particle on a supported Pd catalyst. The formation of Pd carbide (PdCx) during the synthesis of VA was investigated over Pd/SiO2 catalysts with two different Pd particle sizes, as well as over a Pd-Au/SiO2 mixed-metal catalyst. XRD data indicate that smaller Pd particles show greater resistance to the formation of PdCx. The alloying of Au with Pd is apparently very effective in preventing PdCx formation in Pd-based catalysts for VA synthesis. Addition of Au to Pd/SiO2 catalysts significantly enhances the VA formation rate and selectivity. Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) of CO on Pd/Au(100) and Pd/Au(111) confirms the presence of Pd as isolated monomers on a Au-rich surface. A pair of Pd monomers is the most favorable active site for the formation of VA. The spacing between the two active isolated Pd atoms is critical and is demonstrated by the relative rates of VA formation on Pd/Au model catalysts, i.e. Pd/Au(111) < Pd/Au(100). The role of Au is to isolate the surface Pd atoms and thus suppress the formation of by products, CO and CO2. A pair of Pd monomers required for VA synthesis is further confirmed by the results from model studies of Sn-Pd.

This dissertation is focused on understanding heterogeneous bimetallic catalysts using model catalyst systems, such as Pd-Au/Mo(110), Pd/Au(111) and Pd/Au(100). Monometallic and bimetallic model catalysts, composed of Pd and Au, were prepared by physical vapor deposition (PVD) onto well-characterized metal substrates. Subsequent characterization was performed using an arsenal of modern surface science tools: low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEISS), infrared absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electronic, morphological, and chemical properties of the prepared model catalysts were compared to those observed from monometallic single-crystal model catalysts such as Cu(100), Pd(111), Au(100), and Au(111). Between 700 K and 1000 K, formation of stable alloy surfaces of Pd-Au mixtures on Mo(110) was accompanied by substantial enrichment in Au. Annealing a 1:1 Pd-Au mixture at 800 K yields a Pd0.2Au0.8 surface alloy; the concentration of isolated Pd sites in this surface alloy can be systematically controlled by a judicious selection of initial bulk Pd-Au concentration. Pd-Au catalysts supported on Au(111) and Au(100) substrates generated a surface ensemble of Pd monomers surrounded by Au after annealing the systems at or above 550 K. To test the activity and selectivity of the prepared bimetallic model catalysts, the formation rate of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) was examined. More significant enhancement of VAM formation rate was observed for bimetallic catalysts supported on Au(100) compared to those on Au(111). A critical surface ensemble composed two non-contiguous Pd monomers was proposed for the VAM synthesis. Oxygen plays a critical role in the efficiency of the synthetic route. Structure-reactivity correlations were established based on the suggested elementary reactions leading to the oxidative coupling of ethylene and acetic acid to form VAM.

Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) was utilised together with the high resolution depth-profiling capabilities of Medium Energy Ion Scattering (MEIS), a technique traditionally associated with single crystal substrates, to probe the mean size and depth dependent composition profile of bimetallic PdAu nanoparticles on planar oxide surfaces as functions of the starting composition and annealing temperature. In order to fit composition profiles to experimental MEIS data, a new analysis tool has been designed that models the particles as flat-topped structures with a hexagonal base which can be divided into a number of shells, each shell corresponding to a particular ion pathlength inside the material. The reliability of this method will be discussed in detail. Fitting results show that the surface layers are always significantly enriched in Au compared to the bulk alloy composition. By comparing MEIS data for clean surfaces data for modified surfaces it was found that Pd generally segregates towards the particle surface on adsorption of acetic acid. The interaction of potassium acetate with Au/Pd{111} alloy surfaces of varying composition has been investigated using Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) and Reflection Absorption Infra Red Spectroscopy (RAIRS). At lower coverage, potassium acetate reacts reversibly with the surface to form CO and carbonate. Formation of surface acetate is observed on Pd-rich surfaces only. At higher coverage, acetate is the major surface species formed on all samples examined.

No description available.

No description available.