Platinum group metal phosphides as efficient catalysts in hydroprocessing and syngas-related catalysis

Abstract

Platinum group metal phosphides are reviewed as catalytic materials for hydroprocessing and syngas-related catalysis. Starting from synthetic procedures leading to highly dispersenano-particular compounds, their properties in the applications are discussed and compared with relevant benchmarks, if available. Regarding their mode of action, two confronting mechanistic scenarios are presented: (i) a cooperative scenario in which catalytic sites of different functionalities are active in hydroprocessing and (ii) single site catalysis, which appears to be the relevant mode of action in syngas-related catalysis and which occurs over “frustrated” active sites.