H2 activation on metal oxides promoted by highly dispersed Pd

Promoting the activation of hydrogenation on metal oxide catalysts is crucial but challenging for designing highly efficient heterogeneous metal oxide catalysts. Here, highly dispersed Pd nanoclusters were loaded onto CeO2 surface by incipient-wetness impregnation aiming to enhance the activation of hydrogen and hydrogenation performance of CeO2. Detailed characterizations, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman and H2/D2 isotopic exchange experiments, revealed that the highly dispersed Pd on CeO2 increased the number of oxygen vacancies and thus hydrogen activation. As expected, the Pd/CeO2 catalyst delivered remarkably promoted hydrogenation activity compared to the pristine CeO2 catalyst. [Display omitted] •Highly dispersed Pd species on CeO2 achieved by incipient-wetness impregnation.•Increased number of oxygen vacancies by highly dispersed Pd species on CeO2.•Enhanced activation of hydrogen on Pd/CeO2 catalyst compared to CeO2 catalyst.•Pd/CeO2 exhibits promoted hydrogenation performance over the CeO2 catalyst.