Au/Pt Bimetallic Nanoparticle Decorated Microparticle Hybrid Catalyst System for Heterogeneous Hydrogenation of Styrene

Poly(methacryloyloxy quinoline) microparticles were synthesized and used as reducing and stabilizing agents to prepare Au/Pt bimetallic nanoparticle (NP) decorated microparticle (MP) hybrid catalyst systems. These newly reported hybrid catalyst systems were used for reduction of styrene into ethylbenzene. Gold precursor was essential to prepare bimetallic NPs due to its great interaction with PMAQ resulting in the reduction to AuNPs on the surface of PMAQ MPs. Pt is also contrubute to NP formation thanks to this superior interaction between Au and PMAQ MPs. The bimetallic nanoparticle contents on the PMAQ MPs were determined as Au0.85Pt0.15 via XRD analysis. Au and Pt amounts were also determined with ICP-MS analysis. Although the metal amount in the sample was quite low, the catalytic effect was remarkable for hybrid system. AuNP decorated MPs had no catalytic activity for the reduction of styrene. Thus, it is clear that Pt was the active part of hybrid catalyst system for this reaction. On the other hand, gold precursor had been determined as crucial for the simultaneous synthesis of bimetallic NP decorated MPs as well. New microparticles decorated with bimetallic nanoparticles have been synthesized and used effectively as a catalyst systems in the hydrogenation of styrene. While it is reported in the literature that such particles have successful catalytic activity in various oxidations, our particles stand out with reducing activities, reusabilities and easy production/removal properties.