Nanosized Au/C catalyst obtained from a tetraamminegold(III) precursor: Synthesis,characterization, and catalytic activity in low-temperature CO oxidation

A method in which the water-soluble complex Au(NH₃)₄](NO₃)₃ is used as the active-component precursor is suggested for preparing nanosized Au/C catalysts (C = Sibunit, a mesoporous carbon material). The complex is unreadily reducible by the carbon matrix and can be involved in cation exchange with proton-containing groups of the support. This method is referred to as cationic adsorption. It has been demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy that the catalyst prepared in this way and treated with H₂ at 400°C contains size-uniform gold metal particles with a dominant diameter of <5 nm. The greater part of the gold particles is located on the outer surface of the Sibunit granules; that is, an egg shell type distribution of the active component takes place. The catalyst containing 1.3 wt % Au shows high activity in CO oxidation with excess humid air at 40°C. In this respect, it is far superior to the Au/C catalysts prepared by conventional methods (deposition-precipitation and impregnation), in which the typical gold particle size is several tens of nanometers.