Methane oxidation over supported Pd catalysts prepared by magnetron sputtering

Abstract While magnetron sputtering has been used to deposit metals onto a range of solid substrates, its application to produce porous heterogeneous catalysts in powder form is relatively unstudied. Here, magnetron sputtered Pd heterogeneous catalyst powders were prepared using a shaker operated at optimal experimental settings to give uniform coverage of the powders, and tested in the abatement of exhaust emissions in natural gas fuelled engines via the oxidation of methane. Pd nanoparticles were deposited onto alumina, titania and zeolite supports, in powder form. X-ray diffraction confirmed that the characteristic structure of each support was maintained following sputtering. The quantity of Pd increased (a) with deposition time and (b) as a function of support in the order alumina