In
this study, a novel intermetallic compound-derived trimetallic
surface site in nanoscale via the galvanic replacement reaction (GRR)
is described. A PdZn/SiO2 catalyst, which exhibited high
activity for the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene, was prepared. The
GRR between the metallic Zn of the SiO2-supported PdZn
intermetallic nanoparticles and the third metal precursor (e.g., Pb,
Bi, Sn, Au, Ag, and Ga) was carried out, affording well-modified surface
Pd sites. Among a series of catalysts modified by the third metals,
the Pb-replaced catalyst exhibited an excellent yield of styrene,
with the minimum overhydrogenation rate for alkane. The Pb-replaced
catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission
electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, CO
Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements.
The combination of these characterization methods revealed that (1)
surface Zn atoms are successfully replaced by Pb during the GRR and
(2) the prepared catalysts exhibit a bulk PdZn intermetallic structure,
with their surface modified by Pb. The as-prepared catalysts were
used for the selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene to styrene.
A control experiment using a Pd–Zn–Pb trimetallic solid-solution
alloy led to a low catalytic activity, highlighting the validity and
specificity of the Pb-modified PdZn surface structure.