Silica‐Supported Fe-Pd Bimetallic Particles: Formation from Mixed‐Metal Clusters and Catalytic Activity

Abstract
Why are bi‐ and multimetallic heterogeneous catalysts more selective and stabler than their monometallic counterparts? Informative in this connection are AEM (analytical electron microscopy) investigations on catalysts which were prepared by thermal decomposition of the clusters 1 and 2 on SiO2 supports. The investigations indicate the presence of highly disperse bimetallic particles having the same metal ratio as the clusters. After the reaction the catalyst from the cluster 1 contains Pd particles (100–300 Å), while the catalyst from 2 contains both Pd as well as Fe particles (200–500 Å). equation image