Rational Catalyst Design for Higher Propene Partial Electro-oxidation Activity by Alloying Pd with Au
Alloying Pd with 10% Au disrupts the inhibiting adsorbate layer that limits propene oxidation on pure Pd, delivering a 2.4× activity boost while maintaining high allyl oxidation selectivity. Statistical modelling and EC-MS point to an optimal surface ratio of ~1 Au per 6 Pd atoms, with peak activity just below Pd cluster oxidation potential.