What is metal dispersion

1、 Definition of metal dispersion 

Metal dispersion refers to the ratio of the number of active metal atoms on the surface of a catalyst to the total number of metal atoms on the catalyst. It is a measure that characterizes the dispersion state of metals on the surface of a support and is of great significance.

Catalytic reactions usually occur at the atoms on the surface of the catalyst, so catalysts with good dispersion generally have better catalytic effects. When the metal dispersion is 1, it means that all metal atoms are exposed.

2、 The significance of metal dispersion testing

In multiphase catalysis, metal dispersion is an important parameter. In supported metal catalysts, the degree of metal dispersion directly affects their catalytic activity and selectivity. By increasing the dispersion of metals on the surface of the carrier, the number of active sites can be increased, thereby improving the efficiency of catalytic reactions. For example, in some catalytic reactions such as hydrogenation and desulfurization, the improvement of metal dispersion can significantly enhance the performance of the catalyst.

The testing of metal dispersion is of great significance for the research, development, and application of catalysts, providing key information and guidance for optimizing catalytic processes and improving industrial production efficiency. It can help evaluate catalyst performance, understand catalyst structure, optimize catalyst preparation, predict catalyst lifespan, and study catalytic reaction mechanisms.

3、 Method for testing metal dispersion

The method for determining metal dispersion usually relies on chemical adsorption, using the Builder-PCA1200 chemical adsorption analyzer. It utilizes the selective chemical adsorption of certain gases (such as H ₂, O ₂, CO, etc.) on specific metals (such as Pt, Pd, Rh), and the adsorption amount of these gases has a clear stoichiometric relationship with the metal, from which the dispersion of the metal can be calculated.