Facile Synthesis for Anchoring Highly Efficient Superfine Pd Nanoparticles on Carbon: Boosting Catalytic C-C Coupling

The facile approach has been found to immobilize superfine palladium nano-particles (Pd NPs) on the carbon material according to the wet impregnation by weakly-capping growth function of methanol. The structure and morphology of catalysts are analyzed and verified by characterizations containing XRD, XPS, N(2)absorption-desorption and TEM analysis. Under the effect of methanol possessing the weakly-capping capacity, the Pd@C nano-catalyst is bestowed as superfine Pd NPs with an average particle size of 2.7 nm in alkaline environment which can enhance the interaction between the carrier C and Pd ions. Compared with Pd/C (prepared without alkaline environment) and commercial Pd/C catalysts, the smaller size and excellent dispersion of Pd NPs greatly promote the catalytic activity of the Pd@C, providing a higher yield of biphenyl compounds up to 99 % at 40 degrees C. Moreover, Pd@C catalyst possesses a sustained catalysis performance in Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, due to easily recycling by centrifugal separation.