Pretzer, Lori A.Heck, Kimberly N.Kim, Sean S.Fang, Yu-LunZhao, ZhunGuo, NengWu, TianpinMiller, Jeffrey T.Wong, Michael S.2016-04-292016-04-292016Pretzer, Lori A., Heck, Kimberly N., Kim, Sean S., et al.. "Improving gold catalysis of nitroarene reduction with surface Pd." <i>Catalysis Today,</i> 264, (2016) Elsevier: 31-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2015.07.040.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/90382Nitroarene reduction reactions are commercialized catalytic processes that play a key role in the synthesis of many products including medicines, rubbers, dyes, and herbicides. Whereas bimetallic compositions have been studied, a better understanding of the bimetallic structure effects may lead to improved industrial catalysts. In this work, the influence of surface palladium atoms supported on 3-nm Au nanoparticles (Pd-on-Au NPs) on catalytic activity for 4-nitrophenol reduction is explored. Batch reactor studies indicate Pd-on-Au NPs exhibit maximum catalytic activity at a Pd surface coverage of 150 sc%, with an initial turnover frequency of ∼3.7 mol-nitrophenol/mol-metalsurface/s, which was ∼5.5× and ∼13× more active than pure Au NPs and Pd NPs, respectively. Pd NPs, Au NPs, and Pd-on-Au NPs below 175 sc% show compensation behavior. Three-dimensional Pd surface ensembles (with ∼4–5 atoms) previously identified through X-ray adsorption spectroscopy provide the active sites responsible for the catalytic maximum. These results demonstrate the ability to adjust systematically a structural feature (i.e., Pd surface coverage) to yield a more active material.engThis is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier.Journal articlenitrophenolcatalysispalladiumgoldnanoparticlebimetallicstructurehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2015.07.040