Facile synthesis of Pd-Au/BNNS bimetallic catalysts for direct generation of H2O2 from H2 and O2 under environmentally friendly conditions

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as an important biocompatible oxidant, has many industrial applications including (bio) medical technologies, textiles, and water treatment. Pd-containing catalysts as active components modified by another metal to improve the activity and selectivity of the catalyst have been reported in the literature for H2O2 generation from hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). In the present work, Pd and Au nanoparticles with different molar ratios were successfully and uniformly decorated on boron nitride nanosheets by the impregnation method (Pdx-Auy/BNNSs). The catalytic performance of Pd0.05-Au0.10/BNNSs in direct H2O2 generation was remarkably increased as compared to that of monometallic Pdx/BNNSs and other bimetallic Aux-Pdy/BNNS catalysts (also showing low activity in H2O2 degradation). The use of BNNSs as a support for Pd and Au nanoparticles exhibited optimum catalytic activity (47.4% selectivity to H2O2, 47.5% H2 conversion) with respect to reported Pd and Au catalysts. © 2022 The Royal Society of Chemistry.