Royal Society of Chemistry, Catalysis Science & Technology, 4(6), p. 1003-1006, 2016
DOI: 10.1039/c5cy02165k
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The strong dependence of catalytic activity and selectivity on the size of nanoparticles has imposed great value on facile methods to tailor metal nanoparticles (NPs) with uniform dispersion on a heterogeneous support. Here, a simple and effective method for re-activating sintered Pd NPs decorated on carbon supports is demonstrated using HNO3 vapour at mild temperatures in a closed system, without loss in the Pd content. We further reveal that nitrogen oxides play an important role in the re-dispersion of Pd NPs. In a catalytic phenol hydrogenation reaction, the re-dispersed NPs exhibited superior catalytic activity as compared to sintered Pd NPs supported on CNTs.