Preparation and catalytic properties of Pd nanoparticles supported on micro-crystal DUT-67 MOFsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: TEM image and EDS for 1%Pd/DUT-67 and 0.3% Pd/DUT-67; SEM image of 0.5% Pd/DUT before and after catalytic reaction; reusability results of 5% Pd/DUT-67. See DOI: 10.1039/c5ra03286e

• Main Authors: Zhuang, Gui-lin, Bai, Jia-qi, Tan, Li, Huang, Hong-liang, Gao, Yi-fen, Zhong, Xing, Zhong, Chong-li, Wang, Jian-guo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra03286e

Zr-based MOFs usually feature exceptionally high thermal and chemical stability, which suggests that composites of noble metals and Zr-based MOFs could have wide industrial applications. In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of Pd nanoparticles (of three different loadings: 0.3%, 0.5% and 1.0%) supported on micro-crystal DUT-67 MOFs. Via SEM, TEM and XPS characterization methods, it was found that the Pd nanoparticles were well dispersed on the interface of the MOF micro-crystals, with a diameter of 3.5 nm, and both the dangling organic groups and the cavities of the MOFs play important roles. Furthermore, PXRD, IR, TGA and N 2 adsorption measurements confirmed that the composites are very robust. Studies on the catalytic properties indicated that they have good catalytic performance with a conversion of 99% and selectivity of 89% in the Suzuki coupling reaction. By a series of explorations, we found the best catalytic conditions are an ethanol-water mixed solvent as the medium, K 2 CO 3 as the base and a temperature of 70 °C. Moreover, good catalytic properties were also shown for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene, where the optimum temperature was 60 °C, and a conversion of 99% and selectivity of 99% were achieved. The obtained Pd/DUT-67 composites exhibited high catalytic performance in Suzuki coupling and nitrobenzene hydrogenation reactions.