Pd catalysts supported on rGO-TiO_2 composites for direct synthesis of H_2O_2: Modification of Pd^(2+)/Pd^0 ratio and hydrophilic property

The use of nanostructured composites as catalyst supports is a promising route to prepare catalysts with high selectivity and productivity. In this work, reduced graphene oxide-TiO_2(rGP-x) composites with a variation of reduced graphene oxide(rGO) content were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Pd/rGP-x catalysts were prepared in incipient-wetness impregnation method for the direct synthesis of H_2O_2 from H2 and O_2. The morphology and electronic properties of catalysts were investigated by XPS, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy.The ratio of Pd^(2+)/Pd^0 and the hydrophobicity of the catalysts were increased with the rising content of rGO. As the amount of rGO in the catalysts varied in the range of 0.025 wt%–2 wt%, the selectivity of H_2O_2 exhibited a tendency of increasing firstly and then decreasing from 0.1 wt% to 2 wt%. It indicates that good catalytic performance for H_2O_2 synthesis can be achieved only when appropriate amount of rGO is introduced. The H_2O_2 selectivity and productivity of Pd/r GP-0.025 both improved remarkably compared with Pd/P25. This enhancement originated from the combined effects of the proper ratio of Pd^(2+)/Pd^0 and hydrophobicity of the catalyst.