C–X (X = Cl, Br, I) bond dissociation energy as a descriptor for the redispersion of sintered Au/AC catalysts

Disintegration or redispersion of supported sintered gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in the presence of alkyl halide can give catalyst regeneration or redispersion of sintered Au catalysts. The selectivity of alkyl halides, temperature and size distributions were investigated to elucidate the redispersion of Au NPs during halide-induced decomposition. This study proved that the alkyl halide induced the redispersion of sintered Au NPs which depended on the R–X (X = I, Br, Cl) bond dissociation energy (BDE) and thus provided a simple descriptor for the regeneration of inactive supported Au catalysts. A correlation between the BDE of R–X and dispersion efficiency was established. The tendency for disintegration and redispersion followed the R–X BDE of the alkyl halide. Compared to alkyl chlorides and bromides, iodides were more efficient for redispersing sintered Au NPs. As a descriptor, the BDE of R–I played a crucial role in particle redispersion. These findings provided insights into the mechanism of organic halide-induced Au NP disintegration and the effect of the halide type on the redispersion of sintered catalysts.