Study of grafting and anchoring of palladium complexes on alumina surface

What is it about?

This work studies the reactions of several palladium compounds with the alumina surface, with or without functionalization. The goal is to get experimental proof of a surface reaction (by ligand exchange) and distinguish this from non-specific adsorption.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

We discovered that palladium complexes are easily adsorbed and decomposed on alumina surface, rather than neatly reacting with surface groups. It is important because the terms 'grafting' and 'anchoring' are therefore misleading: if no surface reaction occurs, it is either a surface adsorption (non specific) or even a surface-induced reduction. In the cases where we were able to prove that 'grafting' or 'anchoring' really occurred, the palladium is stabilized as Pd(II) at the surface and is more difficult to reduce into the active Pd(0).

Perspectives