The Use of Isotopic Exchange in Molecular Hydrogen to Study the Physicochemical Properties of Bimetallic Nanoparticles

Abstract

The catalytic and adsorption properties of supported mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles of the copper–silver and copper–gold systems were studied. The particle sizes were 5–9 nm. The catalytic properties of the samples were studied at 77 K in deuterium–hydrogen exchange reactions and ortho-to-para conversion of protium. A comparison of the obtained data on the catalytic properties of the samples in isotope exchange reactions in molecular hydrogen and ortho-to-para conversion of protium showed that the mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles of the systems have magnetic properties. A comparison of the activities of the mono- and bimetallic systems in the deuterium–hydrogen exchange reaction revealed a more significant synergistic effect for the copper–gold system relative to the copper–silver system, which is explained by the greater difference between the electronegativities of atoms in the systems.