Uniformly sized Pt nanoparticles dispersed at high loading on Titania nanotubes

[Display omitted] •xPt/TNT catalysts were synthesized for the vapor phase impregnation methodology.•The catalysts showed uniformly dispersed Pt particles supported on titania nanotubes (TNT).•A strong metal-support interaction between Pt and TNT support hinder Pt nanoparticles to agglomerate into larger particles, even at high Pt loadings.•xPt/TNT materials show a high catalytic activity in naphthalene hydrogenation. A range of Pt loadings (0.9–21.5 wt. %) on titania nanotubes (TNT) catalysts were prepared with a view to address metal-support interaction effects on Pt nanoparticles (size, dispersion, shape) and were prepared by a vapor-phase impregnation method using Pt(acac). The reduced catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, H2-TPD, CO adsorption FTIR and examined as catalysts in naphthalene hydrogenation. Pt nanoparticles have a very uniform size between 1.4–2.2 nm for Pt loadings 0.9–21.5 wt% as indicated by TEM, H2-TPD and CO-adsorption FTIR. A strong metal-support interaction between Pt and TNT support hinder Pt nanoparticles to agglomerate into larger particles, even at high Pt loadings. Both Pt edge sites and exposed surface total Pt sites are highest at 10.2 wt.% Pt loading and parallels naphthalene hydrogenation activity which peaks at this loading.