Experimental data for Pd-Sn catalysts for the direct synthesis of H2O2 with high selectivity

The direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from H2 and O2 represents a potentially atom efficient alternative to the current industrial indirect process. We show that the addition of tin to palladium catalysts coupled with an appropriate heat treatment cycle switches-off the sequential hydrogenation and decomposition reactions, enabling selectivities of >95% towards H2O2. This effect arises from a tin oxide surface layer that encapsulates small Pd-rich particles while leaving larger Pd-Sn alloy particles exposed. We show this effect is a general feature for oxide supported Pd catalysts containing an appropriate second metal oxide component and we set out the design principles for producing high selectivity Pd-based catalysts for direct H2O2 production that do not contain Au.

Experimental data includes Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). TEM data is available as digital micrograph (.dm3) formats and TIFF images(.tif) both suitable for use in the freely available ImageJ software or similar packages. The .dm3 file contains metadata in the image which stores microscope and image information. XPS data is presented in the ISO standard VAMAS format (.vms extension) which is an ASCII data file readable by all spectroscopy software supporting the format and includes note field and calibrations applied in CasaXPS software.

Research results based upon these data are published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aad5705