From amorphous to ordered: Structural transformation of Pd nanoclusters in 1-pentyne hydrogenation reactions

Nanostructured palladium catalysts are used industrially for selective alkyne hydrogenation reactions. However, structural changes can lead to a loss of performance. In this study, we show the evolution atomic structure monodispersed Pd nanoclusters undergoing vapour-phase 1-pentyne reaction. A specific transformation, from amorphous highly symmetrical structures, is observed at level with aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM). This surprising behaviour which occurs concurrently reaction, clearly size-dependent. The results provide new understanding long-term stability commercial heterogeneous catalysts.